Page 24 of Perfectly Petite Shorts
A were of some kind or another was behind the bar. My warlock senses were shit at telling the difference. My father told me the ability would come with time. I had no idea if he’d fed me another line of bullshit or if that piece of advice had been honest. I suppose I’d find out as I got older. Assuming I didn’t get myself killed before I had a chance to gain a respectable amount of white at my temples.
The were slid a glass of amethyst fluid my way. “Aren’t you a little young to be out on your own?” A single eyebrow rose, and his eyes flashed brilliant gold.
Picking up the glass, I downed the drink like a shot. Slamming the empty glass on the counter, I flipped him off before turning and heading deeper into the belly of the beast.
Slot machines dinged and sang as I walked by. Poker and blackjack tables were sparsely filled, and yet, I passed them by as well. I was after bigger game tonight. My father hadn’t taught me much, but one thing he’d made certain I knew was how to cheat at cards.
Shoulders thrown back, I walked toward a door that would either solve my problems or multiply them a thousandfold.
Two trolls flanked the door. One of them didn’t bother to acknowledge my existence. The second sneered, showing off blunt, peg-like yellowed teeth. “What have we got here? You lost, baby warlock?”
I shook my head and mustered every ounce of bravado I had left. “Not lost.” Pointing at the door, I said, “I know exactly where I am and what’s behind that door. I want in.”
The troll who’d been ignoring me barked out a laugh. “Young and stupid.”
The other troll shrugged his massive shoulders and pushed the door open. “Ain’t none of my business. Maxine will make sure you leave a little smarter than you enter.” With a nod, he said, “Go on. Ain’t nobody here gonna hold your hand.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the tingle of my earlier burnt rum light a fire inside my belly. Quelling my shaking limbs, I nodded toward the troll and strolled inside like I owned the place. If I played my cards right and cheated like dad taught me, soon enough, that might just be true.
Gaia, I was an idiot.
Shit. I’d forgotten how hard trolls hit. I’d also forgotten how bad their breath stank. “Fuck, don’t you guys’ ever floss?” I barely dodged the second punch. Gaia, my mouth got me into more trouble than my shitty warlock skills. Still, if I’d had a few breath mints on me, I would have tossed the overgrown menace a few.
“You’re a card-carryin’ idiot, you know that, Vander?” Maxine’s bulging biceps hung at her sides, her fingers fisted. The frilly lace gently kissing her wrists looked as out of place as the vibrant floral pattern decorating her dress. The bright pink-and-orange flowers clashed with Maxine’s puke-green skin.
I considered making another comment regarding Maxine’s fashion sense but figured that would get me about as far as my first one, and I didn’t relish another fist to the gut.
“Pay up, you cheatin’ piece of shit,” Maxine demanded.
“I didn’t cheat. I won that game fair and square,” I lied through my blood-stained teeth.
“Bullshit,” Maxine seethed, her voice gruff and very unladylike. Not that female trolls were remotely considered the paragons of antiquated female characteristics.
I grinned through the pain in my split lip. “Prove it.” My chin jutted out along with my foolish pride.
Maxine’s responding grin wiped mine away. “Oh, I don’t have to prove it. I know it, and that’s good enough for me.” Tossing her beefy arms into the air, she did a half twirl. “I don’t see anyone else in this alley that’s gonna come to your rescue, and you sure as shit can’t rescue your own damn self.”
I bristled, stupid pride well and truly pricked. “I’m a fucking warlock. I could—”
“What?” Maxine taunted. “You’ll do what? You can’t manipulate an ounce of magic without it blowing up in your face. I’ve seen what you cando, Vander. Shit, you’ve got what? One or two barely white hairs along your temple. And look at your fingertips. Barely a hint of black. You should still be nursin’ at your momma’s tit, not out cheatin’ at cards.”
I ground my teeth as rage burned deep within. I wanted to scream. I wanted to weave some kick-ass spell or throw a powerful charm at Maxine—something that wouldn’t just fuck her up but shut her up too. Nothing hurt as bad as the truth.
“It’s my money. I’m not giving it back.” I reversed a step only for my back to connect with a literal brick wall. The alley Maxine had cornered me in was too damn tight and stank nearly as bad as Maxine’s breath. My eyes darted left and then right. Nothing but a couple of dumpsters were there to witness my inevitable beatdown. Despite the odds, I wasn’t giving up my recklessly earned cash. I couldn’t. I needed that money for rent. My one-room apartment was shit, but without it, I’d be out on the street, and winter was a poor time to find yourself homeless.
Maxine’s grin grew, scrunching her yellow eyes. “Is that what you really think?” Arms raised, Maxine held one hand open while grinding the opposite fist into her palm. “You reallywanna get hurt that bad?”
Was that a legitimate question?Of course I didn’t want to get beaten. There were a lot of things in my life I hadn’t wanted. I hadn’t wanted my human mother to die when I was five years old. Despite what a shitty fuckup my warlock father had been, I hadn’t wanted him to bite the big one when I was barely old enough to feel magic, let alone manipulate it. But that’s not the hand Gaia had delt me. Was it any wonder I cheated when I could? I’d seen what life had to throw my way when I played it fair. I wasn’t about to sit back and wait for the next catastrophe to befall me.
But as I looked into Maxine’s murderous gaze, I had to face the facts that my current tactics weren’t bearing the best fruit either.
Slowly easing right, toward the closest road and away from the dumpsters blocking my way, I said, “Maybe we can work something out.” I licked my lips, tasting the metal tint of my own blood. “I’m a fair hand at cards and I—”
Maxine’s raucous laughter cut me off short. “Oh, that’s rich comin’ from your mouth. I can’t figure out if you’re stupid or deluded. It don’t matter to me. Only, I hate thinkin’ that I’m beatin’ up on someone whose got a mental deficiency.” Maxine tapped her temple. “That don’t sit well with me.”
“I am not mentally deficient,” I screamed. Damn my idiotic pride. Maxine had given me a possible way out of this, and I’d thrown it away. Maybe I really was an idiot.
“Good.” Maxine was back to grinning. “Because I’m really looking forward to beatin’ the shit out of you.”
