The TLK Speakeasy: Part One (complete)

I was passed around a lot as a kid. I never settled in one home for too long, and in those I did I was kept more as help than family. I never really had a family, just a new roof over my head. This was to be expected; I was a miscreation, a sheep Satyr to be precise. Not many people wanted me around. Usually, women were concerned I would seduce their husbands, so they hid me away before eventually sending me away altogether. I didn’t want to seduce anyone. I was young, and the men were all gross. All I wanted was a home.

I grew up dreaming of having a family to call my own - one that would love me, protect me, and hold me dear. On most days, I was just another piece of furniture in the house I was living in.

When I turned eighteen, I was left to fend for myself. I had literally nothing to my name but the clothes on my back. I took up several jobs to make ends meet, and most of them weren’t so great. I went to work at a factory, but I made far too many mistakes and was often blamed for most things that went wrong. I was fired from the factory, and soon after I was kicked out of my apartment. 

I managed to get a job as a maid for a well to do family, living out of a tiny room just behind the kitchen. The lady of the house was indifferent to me, but as long as I maintained the kitchen and cleaned the floors, she didn’t say anything bad about me. I could live with being a piece of furniture again, tending to the cleaning, the children, and whatever else was asked me. Out of sight, out of mind.

The man of the house wasn’t around very much. When he was, he would confine himself to his home office. He was a quiet and reserved man, and didn’t really make an impression. I barely noticed him when he came home. 

It wasn’t until I had been in the house for a year that I really got to meet him. It was storming outside, so I made my way into the kitchen. He was drinking at the small table, troubled by something at his job. I can’t really explain what happened - only that we both needed some comfort that evening. It felt natural to me to allow him inside and to take pleasure from his manliness. His body was soft in the middle, but the hands he clutched me with were hard and strong. His hairy chest rubbed against my back and his hot mouth bit down on my neck. His cock brought me a euphoric feeling that I could not get enough of. 

After that, I was asked to clean his office more often. His wife didn’t bat an eye. I don’t think she cared much, and only wanted us to be discreet. The man of the house and I carried on behind closed doors, enjoying each other’s company without saying much of anything.

I was introduced to his friends and business partners, who were looking for comfort in their own right. These men pampered me and spoiled me, giving me fancy clothes, taking me out to dinner, buying me jewelry. I gave them warmth and affection on their coldest nights. I took my pleasure with them, enjoying their bodies as much as my own. I felt suited for the carnal more than I did anything else. I loved being an object of desire, and I loved having desire.

One time, I felt unsafe with one of these men and stood up for myself, attempting to get away from him. I do not wish to share the details, but I woke up in a hospital. Luckily, someone had saved my life, and all I received was a concussion. After that, I became much more strict with the people I kept relations with. 

Delly, a minotaur lawyer I was greatly fond of, took it upon himself to take care of me. He got me an apartment, a closet full of beautiful clothes, a jewelry box full of diamonds and pearls, and a shelf of perfume from all over the world. Delly was my favorite of all my dates. He was kind and loving, and supportive of what I did. He had long, soft fur the color of sand, and the cutest pink nose. I loved to snuggle him, kissing his nose and letting his big, strong hands wrap around my hips. He was quite shy when we first met - timid as a rabbit, but twice as sweet. When I finally got him out of his shell, I knew I had found a perfect match of appetites.

One evening I sit beside Delly in a restaurant, curled around his thick, strong arm as we wait for our meal to be delivered. I like the contrast between my black skin and his pink, my white fur and his gold. I play with his fingers, ruminating on how well they touch me and arouse me when we are together.

“You’re making me blush, Myra,” Delly chuckles.

I press my cheek to his arm. “You should be used to that, Delly. I simply like touching you. You know that.”

Delly huffs, his nostrils flaring. “How can I get used to it, when you grow cuter and prettier daily?” He looks down at me through his mess of hair with a slight smile. “I think I can get used to it, but then I see you all over again.”

“You are so very cute.” I kiss his cheek. “Excuse me for a second. I’ll be back in a moment.” I stand up from the table and smooth down my skirt, then make my way to the bathroom.

There is someone standing at the mirror when I walk in, preening and dabbing on rouge. They turn and look at me as I come in, snakes raising from the top of their head. I try to ignore them, looking in the mirror and fluffing out my hair. I’ve never really felt comfortable in dresses. My legs look weird in them.

The gorgon is still looking at me, so I try to ignore her. But then she comes up beside me, and I look her in the eye. There’s something odd about this gorgon I can’t put my finger on, but she’s so beautiful it almost hurts. The bright yellow snakes sway back and forth and around her face.

“Sorry to bother you.” Her voice is surprisingly deep. “I noticed we run in the same circles, and I wanted to introduce myself… Well, I must admit I have a bit of a crush.”

My wool stands on end, and I turn away from her. “I’m with someone,” I say. I’m ready to stand my ground if need be.

The gorgon smiles and takes a step back. “I know. I’m in the same line of work as you are.” She offers her hand to me. “The name is Vincente. Some friends call me Vivi.”

“Vincente,” I blink as I look back at her. “Isn’t that a rather masculine name?” I take the gorgon’s hand, finding Vincente’s grip is quite strong.

Vincente poses, leaning on the sink with one hand and placing the other on his hip. “Outside this dress, I am very masculine.” His body is a dusty yellow, covered in intricate diamond-shaped scales. The snakes on his head sway, watching me with their fierce eyes. He’s tall and lean with elegant limbs, long fingers, and delicate hands. His jaw is square. Around his eyes are rows of tiny adder-like spines, mimicking thick, lush eyelashes.

“Oh!” I gasp, cupping my hand over my mouth. “You fill out a dress better than I do.” I marvel at him, drinking in the way the dress moves over his body.

Vincente winks, and his snakes move to the left of his head. “I bet you fill out nudity better than I do.” He gives me a seductive wink. “But you know how it goes. Some clients just like certain things, and I am not one to shy away from fashion.”

I furrow my brow. “Clients?”

“Don’t act modest! I’ve seen your roster.” Vincente looks back into the mirror, smiling at our reflections. “An adorable sheep satyr like you - I’m not surprised. It takes someone with a particular set of interests to want me, but that’s why I work out of the TLK.”

My eyes trail down his side, wondering how he maintains such a perfect shape. “TLK?”

“You know,” Vincente laughs as he turns back to me. “The True Love’s Kiss! Isn’t that where you get your clients?”

I shake my head. Part of me wants to run, but another part of me wants to linger around Vincente. He has a seductive air about him that’s soothing. I rarely meet other people like me, or even be in the same social circles as them. Vincente seems to be as comfortable with selling intimate company as I am, and it’s a comfort to know I am not alone.

A smirk crosses Vincente’s lips. “It’s a speakeasy run out of the old church on Borrowed Street. Surely you know about it. Are you telling me you’re running around like this by accident?”

“I, uh…” I shyly look away.

Vincente stares at me in disbelief. “Lucky lamb! Imagine what you could do with someone looking out for you.” Vincente searches in his dress, takes out a business card and hands it to me. “Call me tomorrow. We’ll meet somewhere - have some laughs, share some stories - and I can tell you all about it.”

“Isn’t sex work illegal?” I squeak.

Vincente slips his fingers under my chin. “Don’t act coy, pretty lamb. You know exactly what you’re doing.” He slips me a kiss that sucks the breath from my lungs and makes me weak in the knees, then licks his lips with a long, forked tongue.

“I love a rack of lamb,” he purrs.

I swoon, lashes fluttering and stomach churning as Vincente pulls away. “Oh. I’m not a lamb, but I, uh…”

“You’d best get to your bull out there. He’s a good catch.” Vincente swats my rear playfully, then saunters from the bathroom, his hips swaying as he goes.

I wobble back to the table, tucking Vincente’s card away. The food is already waiting as I sit down. Delly hasn’t touched it, but he is sipping his water. Vincente’s kiss has me wishing I was that glass of water, whatever that means. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

“Everything all right?” Delly asks.

I nod and pick up my fork. “Bee’s knees.” I peer up at him and giggle. “Sorry. I met someone in the bathroom.”

“Oh?” He seems surprised. “A friend?”

“Maybe,” I say with a slight shrug.

I take a bite of my meal, but I don’t really pay attention to it. For the rest of the dinner my mind is a million miles away. I keep thinking about Vincente, especially his kiss, and somehow I want to finish eating as fast as I can so I can have Delly even faster.

When Delly and I go back to my place, I take out the liquor I have hidden away and pour him a glass. As we drink and get warmed up, I peer at him curiously. 

“What’s with the eyeballs?” Delly puts his arm around me. “Something on your mind, doll?”

“Well...” I press my cheek to his and run my fingers through his chest hair. “I was just wondering. Have you ever heard of a place called the True Love’s Kiss?”

His ear twitches. “TLK?” He sets his glass down. “Where did you hear about a joint like that, huh? Aren’t you my good girl?”

I sit up and smile sweetly at him. “Someone mentioned it in passing to me, that’s all. You’re a big-shot lawyer, so I thought maybe you’ve heard something about it.”

Delly snorts, his ears twitching again. “I don’t think you should go looking for answers to that one, Myra.” He slips his fingers under my chin and smooths his thumb across my bottom lip. “It’s a dangerous place, not for an adorable sort like you. Aren’t you happy here?”

I giggle and nod, holding his wrist in my hand. “Yes, of course. You take very good care of me, Delly.”

Delly kisses me, his warm lips traveling down my neck. “The TLK can make or break a girl like you, Myra.”

His hands start to roam, eventually groping my rear and moving up under the fabric. This is what I want, his touch, his heat. I poke his chest. “What is it, big-shot?” I smirk. “Have you had run-ins with this place?”

Delly frowns and folds his ears back. “Clients of mine work there. They pay me good money, but I’ve seen some things in that place. The man who runs it is a former priest, if that tells you anything.”

I crawl into his lap. “If you have such an issue with the place, why work with people from there?” I unbuckle his belt, then move to the buttons of his pants.

Delly watches me with a heated gaze. His eyes focus on my delicate hands as I open his pants. “I’m a sucker for cute things, all right?”

“Apparently.” I raise an eyebrow. I take him from his trousers, rubbing my palm along his growing shaft. I bite my lip, excited to feel him inside me again. No matter how many times we do this, it’s never enough for me.

Delly’s fingers find my folds wet and warm. “You’re awfully excited.” He moans, his eyes focusing on my thighs as they spread over his lap.

I move myself over him, slowly rubbing the tip of his penis to my wetness. “I’m always excited for you.” Once he’s inside me, I feel at home.

When Delly leaves the next morning, I call Vincente and invite him over to my place. I suppose I should take Delly’s warning, but I cannot deny my attraction to Vincente. I’m excited to see him, even though we only met once, and briefly at that. 

When he shows upa at my door, he’s wearing a suit, looking very different from the night before. “Oh my,” I titter nervously. “You’re handsome today. I fear I am not prepared!”

He gives a low laugh and dips his head. “Flatterer.” He kisses my hand as he makes his way inside. “Not too bad a place. You’re doing much better than I thought!” He looks around curiously, going over my bookcase.  He pulls a volume from the shelf and searches through the pages. “Lot of law books you got here.”

“They’re Delly’s. I think they’re interesting.” I stand beside him, looking up at the shelf. “I was always enamored with people’s bookshelves when I was little. I wanted to own so many! It took me a long time to learn how to read, though. I’m still not so smart.”

“I like a girl who can read. And I bet you are way smarter than you think you are.” He sets the book back onto the shelf, turns his full attention to me and grins.“Now, what has you calling me up?” 

“Curiosity, I suppose. You surprised me last night. I’ve never seen a man wearing a dress before, and I wanted to see you again, pure and simple.”

“Pure and simple.” Vincente rubs his chin. “I’m glad I could leave such an indelible impression upon you.”

I lead him into the parlor, where I have coffee prepared. “I was also curious about this True Love’s Kiss you’re talking about.”

“Ah, the True Love’s Kiss,” Vincente sniffs the coffee, then takes a sip. “My god, this is awful. Where did you get it?”

“True Love’s Kiss?” I ask.

He shakes his head fervently at me. “No way you got this coffee there.” He sets the cup aside.

I wave my hand, trying to get him back on point. “No, I mean… I just got this coffee at the grocery store! It can’t have gone bad already!”

“It’s not a matter of going bad. It’s just bad.” Vincente dabs his mouth with a handkerchief. 

“Well, I’m sorry about that,” I huff. “Just toss it out. What I really want to know is about the True Love’s Kiss. What is it?” I come up closer to him as he tosses the coffee into the sink.

“It was founded as a safe haven for people who might not fit the mold of a ‘model American’.” He rolls his eyes. “A place where people like us can be close to each other, or people who take kindly to us. You know how it is. I’m sure you’ve noticed a few of your clients hiding you away.”

I sink into thought, running previous dates through my mind. “I hadn’t really thought about it,” I murmur. “I mean, I suppose… Some of them just preferred staying in, that’s all.”

Vincente leans against the counter with a serious look in his eye. “How many do you have?” 

I watch his expression closely. The delicate, thorny  growths framing his eyes are black at the base, pale gold at the tips. “How many what?”

“Clients!” Vincente laughs, the places both his hands over his face. “Do I need to cover my face so you can keep your train of thought?” 

“I can keep it!” I pout.

Vincente removes his hands and grins at me. “I’ve seen you with at least three out and about. The minotaur last night, the orc fella, and then the pretty little elf.”

“I call them dates,” I explain to him. “Calling them clients makes the whole thing sound so dull and boring. If I wanted that, I would take up an office job.”

Vincente pats my cheek. “Of course you would. Go on.”

“Well, there is Delly, and Mortimer the orc, they’re my top two. But Mortimer has been out of town. I think he might be changing jobs.” I pout slightly. Mortimer had a good dick. “Then there is Maxima, the elf. I only see them when they’re here on business. Then I have Millicent and John, but they like staying in.”

Vincente tilts his head towards me. “Are they humans?”

“Millicent and John are.” I frown. “What are you saying?”

“Humans are still afraid to be seen with people like us.” Vincente takes a cigarette case from his pocket. He taps out one thin cigarette and places it between his lips. He pats down his jacket as he searches for his lighter. “They still don’t think we miscreations should mingle with them.”

I frown. “That’s a horrible word. You shouldn’t use it.”

He lights his cigarette, then snaps his Zippo shut. He blows out a cloud of smoke that smells like cinnamon. “But that’s how they see us, Myra. Your minotaur date is the monster child of a possessed woman woman and a bull, your orc is a mindless brute, your elf is a wispy, flighty spirit. And I turn people to stone.” He exhales another cloud and hangs his head. “People still hate. It’s hard to be kind.”

I look away from him, thinking about all the families I was passed around to. I never stayed in the human ones for very long, but they were the ones I had most often. 

“I am not saying this to be cruel,” he says gently. “I tell you this so that the True Love’s Kiss doesn’t seem seedy to you. It’s a good place, a safe place. Somewhere our kind can be protected, and have our clients brought to us.”

I peer up at him again. “Is it really safe?”

“I was saved by the Father,” he says in a soft, warm voice. “I was working for a nobleman back home, and made to pleasure his wife while he watched. But god forbid I took care of my own wants. The Father took me out of that life, gave me one where I was in control, and could have who I wanted, and could say no. I have a life and freedom thanks to the True Love’s Kiss.”

“I’m so sorry! Were you ever hurt?”

Vincente’s smile is touched. “I dare not say, lest tears come to those beautiful eyes of yours.” He pinches my cheek playfully and grins. “Just know that the man you see before you is happy now, and I enjoy my work.”

I smile at him, giggling as my cheeks turn warm. “I’m sorry for the coffee. Is it really that bad?”

“I consider myself an expert on coffee. And Myra, my dear, what you have is swill. I would not feed the beans to rats!” The snakes on his head sway sideways to curl around his neck. “I will have to bring you some of my own. Actually, if you’re not busy, maybe I could show you my place.”

I shake my head. “I was just planning on cleaning today, but I can do that anytime.” I beam up at him, feeling excited at the prospect of seeing his home. “Where do you live?”

“On Borrowed Street.” He winks, his thorny lashes hitting his cheek.

“Oh.” I cup my hand to my mouth. “You live there?”

“There is tons of space now that it is no longer a church. The Father sees that all of us are well-taken care of.” Vincente holds his hand out to me. “What do you say? Do you still wish to come with me?”

I screw my mouth up into a tight line and tentatively take his hand. “Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt just to go and have a peek.”

“I think you’ll really enjoy it there,” he says brightly. 

Hand in hand, I follow him down the street. It’s cold out, so I keep my stole close around my neck. My wool helps to keep me warm, but I can still feel the chill sneak into my bones. As we round the corner, I see the old church across the street. Its high towers spear, into the sky and the stone grotesques ringing the roof and facade lean forward as if to watch people going in and out. 

“It looks creepy from the outside,” I murmur.

“I promise you it’s berries,” Vincente says. He takes me to the door and uses an old iron key to unlock it. “Only a select few get a key. We have to protect ourselves.”

Inside, what was once the congregation hall is now a large waiting room full of sofas. All around I see all manner of creatures, lounging and basking in the sunlight coming through the stained-glass windows. 

“We’re all a big family here, Myra,” Vincente says to me. “We try to get along and take care of one another.”

“It looks nice. I never really had a family. I’m not sure what it’s like.”

Vincente kisses my cheek. “I thought I recognized a kindred spirit. Stick with me, Myra, and I’ll show you a whole world. The True Love’s Kiss can be a home for you too, and you can find a family like I did.”

I look around the room. There’s another satyr like me curled up on a sofa with a human woman and a troll. I’ve only met one other satyr in my life, and I always felt an absence because of it.

I smile at Vincente. “Give me a tour of your world. I would really love to see it.”

Vincente kisses my hand, then beams at me. His snakes sway, looking almost as excited as he does. “Let me introduce you to my best friends first. After that, the world is your oyster.” 

He takes me onto an elevator; the attendant is a massive, all-black minotaur. “Ostivo, third floor please. Oh, and this lovely thing is Myra, my new friend.”

Ostivo bows his head.

“Don’t be too surprised if Ostivo is quiet,” Vincente whispers. “Before he came here, he was forced to work in mines and his tongue was cut out. But he’s the kindest soul you’ll ever come across. He’s a good friend.”

I peer up sadly at Ostivo. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Ostivo writes on a pad and hands it to me. His handwriting is beautiful. “It’s rare that Vincente brings someone cute back here. What the hell does he have on you?”

“Hey!” Vincente and his snakes hiss at Ostivo, who smiles haughtily at him.

I titter behind my hand, trying to not embarrass Vincente any further. The elevator dings, and Ostivo opens the door for us.

“Thank you,” I say to him.

He nods, smiling as Vincente puts his arm around me. “I think he likes you,” Vincente smirks.

“He seems very sweet.” I look around the hallway we’re in now. It’s narrow, and the wallpaper has a golden floral design. There are lamps in sconces by each door, illuminating the gold-painted numbers on each one. Vincente stops before a door numbered ‘1515’ and uses a rather large key to unlock it. Inside the room smells faintly of cardamom and pepper, with a touch of fragrant coffee. The walls are decorated with old masks and artwork depicting gorgons. A single large canvas is hung above his bed. It depicts Medusa cowering, terrified of a figure before her who is turning to stone. Behind her, the winged, helmeted figure of Athena is comforting her, whispering into her ear.

“Medusa was not a villain, you know?”

I turn to look up at Vincente as he takes off his jacket and tie. “She wasn’t?”

Vincente shakes his head, unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling them up over his arms. “She was a beloved priestess of Athena.” He comes up behind me and stares up at the painting. “She was raped by a man, and Athena saw one of her beloved in distress, she gave her power to turn any man to stone with her gaze. Thus, the gorgons were born, or so the legend goes.”

I reflect on how the picture so perfectly captures that sense of fear and mercy. “How did she become a villain, then?” 

“Like many good women in history,” Vincente sighs. “She grew powerful, and therefore she was wicked. Powerful women frighten men.” He turns and smiles at me. “Don’t you think?”

“Is that why you dress as a woman, then?” I ask out of curiosity.

He grins from ear to ear. “Oh, of course. But I also look damn good when I do.” He poses with his hip jutted out, then slips his fingers under my chin and tilts it up. “I also like the way pretty satyrs look at me when I do.” 

My cheeks burn as I smile shyly up at him. “Coffee?” I squeak.

“Yes! Coffee.” He claps his hands together as he makes his way into the adjoining room. He takes down a canister from a high shelf and opens it. “Here, come smell.”

I take a whiff and instantly I am romanced by the thick, rich aroma. “This is amazing,” I sigh dreamily.

“You won’t find this in a grocery store, I’ll assure you of that.” He closes the canister and places it into a shopping bag for me. “Take this home and seduce your good-looking minotaur with it. I bet he’ll be putty in your hands.”

“I would like to think so. Are you sure you want me to have all of it?” I smile sweetly.

“Of course! I keep a good stock for myself.” He starts getting the coffee press ready. “I’ll make you some.”

I end up spending most of the afternoon with Vincente. We chat all day, laughing and sharing deep secrets about our lives. I tell him things I haven’t even confided to Delly. It feels nice to actually open up to someone like him.

I lose track of time, and have to rush back home to my apartment. When I get there, I see Delly already waiting at the door. He looks perturbed and a touch agitated as he stands up from the floor.

“Delly, I’m so sorry!” I hurriedly search for my key as I race towards him. “You weren’t waiting long, were you? I’ll get you something to eat right away.”

“I’m not hungry. Where were you?” He studies me closely as I unlock the door.

“So sorry! I was visiting with a friend and lost track of time.” I look him over. He’s taken off his tie and rolled up his sleeves. “You could have used your key to get in. You didn’t need to wait for me.”

Delly shakes his head as he walks inside. “I didn’t want to let myself in while you weren’t here. This is your place, not mine. I want you to have your privacy.” He sounds exhausted, and his body droops in a way I’ve never seen. He sets his briefcase and coat over the sofa, then rubs the bridge of his nose.

“What’s wrong?” I ask timidly. I step towards him and touch his arm. “You don’t seem like yourself.”

He grunts before answering, and glances down at me with those warm eyes of his. “Long day. What about you? What friend did you go visit?” He points to the bag on my arm. “Did you go shopping?”

“Oh.” I look into the bag and smile. “My new friend made me some fantastic coffee, and he sent some home with me so I could share.”

Delly’s brow pinches. “He?”

I decide to choose my words carefully. Delly has never been the jealous type, but it feels as though I should tread lightly until he is in a better mood. “He’s a cross-dresser,” I blurt, hoping that will satisfy him.

Delly’s head tilts to the side. “How on earth did you meet someone like that?” He goes into the kitchen and pours himself a big glass of water.

“By chance.” I set the bag aside so I can come up close to him. “Why don’t you get relaxed? I’ll start a bath, and once you’ve had a good soak, I’ll rub your back.”

Delly grunts again. “Are you still curious about the TLK?”

My wool is standing on end. “Why?”

“There is apparently a bust in the works.” Delly places his hands on my waist. “We’ve been contacted by the police department to start working up a case against the place.”

I look down. “Oh.”

Delly cups my chin and lifts my head towards him. “I don’t want you going around that place. OK? For your own safety. I don’t want you to be associated with that place if the rug gets pulled out from under them. You got it?”

I nod sheepishly. “But what will happen to the people? What are the police planning?”

Delly kisses the top of my head. “I can’t say. All I know is that the mayor has it out for this place.”

I grimace instantly and tense up. “Oh, I see. Him. What’s his deal with that place?”

I get the warning eye from Delly. He taps his finger over my lips. “I know you can’t stand him, Myra.”

I nip his finger and he pulls it away. “The guy is a dirtbag. If anyone deserves to get busted or whatever, it’s him!”

“You know that, I know that, the entire city knows that, but you know what he is, Myra. Everyone is too afraid to go up against him.” He rubs his hands down my sides. “Now, about that bath?”

I pout as I look up at him. “I’ll go get it drawn.” I stand on tiptoe, meeting his kiss. 

While Delly soaks in the tub, I make a call to Vincente, but he doesn’t answer his phone. I grumble in frustration, setting the phone down as I ponder what to do. I don’t want to betray Delly’s trust, but I don’t want the True Love’s Kiss to come to any harm. They don’t deserve it, especially if Mayor Arkane has something against them. 

The next morning, I go back to the True Love’s Kiss, but I don’t have a key and can’t get in. I knock on the door, and a window beside it opens up. Inside is a woman with white hair cut into a stylish bob. Her solid black eyes eyes are wide and long, and her skin is also black, but her lips are bright red.

“Hello,” I yelp in surprise.

She smirks. “You’re the cutie-pie who was with Vincente yesterday.” She points a very sharp fingernail at me. “What brings you back?”

“I need to speak with him. Is there any way I could see him?”

She tilts her head to the side. “I’m afraid he isn’t in. He’s been out on a group job since last night.” She bites down on her ruby lip with a sharp fang. “You seem panicked. What’s wrong?”

I gulp down hurried breaths. “I have some information that could be important to the TLK. Your safety could be at risk.”

She glares hatefully at me. “What does that mean?”

“Please.” I come closer to the window. “I need to speak with someone.”

She furrows her brow and snaps the window shut. A moment later, the door opens and there she stands, a black-widow drider. She glares down at me. “Get inside.” She grabs my arm and pulls me through the door.

She takes me to a small room, goes to a desk and opens a laptop. She continues to glare at me, and under her bangs I can see more eyes. “What’s all this about, then?” Two of her hands cross over her chest, while two others start typing furiously.

“I know someone close to the law,” I don’t want to mention Delly’s name. “They told me that Mayor Arkane is working with the police department to bust the True Love’s Kiss.”

“And who are you?” she demands.

“My name is Myra. Vincente can tell you all about me. But I’m in the same line of work as him, and I’ve had run-ins with Mayor Arkane.”

“All of us here have,” the drider scoffs. “I’m Veronica, by the way. Now, who is it you know that gave you this information about Mayor Arkane?”

I shake my head. “I can’t say. He's just very important to me.”

Veronica nods. “Will he tell you more about this bust?”

“I’m not sure. I’m usually not one to ask about his work.” My ears droop. “He only told me about the bust because he knew I was curious about the True Love’s Kiss. He didn’t want me to get involved.”

She chuckles, her lips curling. “Look at you, doing exactly that.” She sets the laptop aside and puts her hands on her hips. “Cute thing like you, I bet you could get any information out of him you wanted.”

I swallow hard. “Yes, but… I told you, he’s very important to me! I don’t want to ruin his trust, or…” I hang my head. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

“I understand,” Veronica murmurs. “But you have to understand, this is the weight of one against well over a hundred people. Mayor Arkane has been out for Father for ages, and he’ll use any dirty tactic to get his hands around Father’s throat. That affects all of us.”

“I know, but…” My voice catches in my throat. 

The door opens, and Vincente comes in. “I heard she was here. Vern, what’s going on?” His voice is stern and aggravated.

Veronica sniffs. “She has information about Mayor Arkane wanting to bust us again.”

Vincente glances down at me and presses his lips into a firm line. “Let me talk to her. You’re scary, Vern.”

“Thank you,” Veronica says proudly.

Vincente takes me from the tiny room, his hand wrapped around mine. His clothes are mussed, and remnants of makeup are still on his face. He drags me into a quiet hallway and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Did Delly tell you this?” His voice is low and urgent.

I nod shyly. “I don’t want to get him into trouble for telling me. He only told me to protect me.”

Vincente scowls. “Well, he’s going to have to get involved now.” He pats my cheek. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything bad happen to you or your Delly. But we’re going to have to work together on this if you really want to protect the True Love’s Kiss. Will you help us, Myra?”

I swallow the lump of fear in my throat. “Yes,” I whisper. “Tell me what I need to do, Vincente.”

He grins at me. “That’s my good girl.” He kisses my forehead then squeezes my hand. “For the time being, try and see what information you can get from Delly. Veronica and I will take this information to the Father, and from there, we’ll keep you informed.”

“OK.” I take a deep breath. “I’ll do everything I can.”

Vincente kisses me, cupping his hands around my face. I can taste vodka and coffee on his tongue, as well as the lipstick that still stains his lips.  “I’ll make it worth all your effort, Myra,” he says with a seductive smile. He brushes his fingers against my wool. “I’ll give you a proper thank-you once this is all over.”

My cheeks burn red-hot, and I giggle. “You really don’t have to.”

“Oh no,” he arches a brow and his snakes sway. “I must insist. And it won’t be a thank-you card, I can assure you that.” He gives me another kiss, this one soft and tender. “Now, you’d best head home. It’s going to rain today, and I would hate for you to get caught in it. I’ll call you later.”

I head back home. As I wonder what I can do to get more information from Delly, I notice his briefcase under the sofa. He must have forgotten to take it when he left. I rush over, grabbing it up.

I can save the True Love’s Kiss and betray Delly’s trust, or let the True Love’s Kiss get cracked to protect Delly. I take a deep, deep breath and calm myself, and open the briefcase.