Dueces {every}

[Cree]

One earbud secure in her left ear and the other hanging over her right shoulder, Cree tipped her head back and exhaled a line of smoke from parted lips. She didn’t know whether Dark Eden was a smoking or non-smoking establishment, but she figured her sire wouldn’t mind. Sangue were like that. Her family, if she dared use that word to describe her lineage, allowed for support and solitude, all at the same exact time.

When the cigarette turned to ash, she pulled it from between her lips and wiped the butt against the bottom of her left boot. Ruby red turned to grey and scattered along the wood floor. Taking the remnants of her cigarette between her index finger and her thumb, she pulled back and threw it at the table to her right. The couple occupying the table didn’t even notice the quick hiss as the Marlboro soared over the red candle and landed along the binding of an open textbook.

She tucked her hands beneath her thighs and shifted around on her seat. Parker was late. Parker was always late. She had warned the man to avoid empty roads and buildings, but he had been a snack for quite a few hungry vampires. He looked like a scene kid in the middle of a sea of businessmen, so it wasn’t much of a surprise. After all, his hairstyle and clothing had attracted her attention.

Closing her eyes, she moved her hands from beneath her thighs and rooted around in the pockets of her jeans. One hand brushed against the cool metal of a lighter, while the other handed brushed against the wrinkled plastic of a pack of cigarettes. She had smoked the last of her Marlboros, but she had a few Camels left. After that, she knew she had to scavenge to continue feeding her habit. She spent more time looking for cigarettes than looking for blood. With Parker, she had all the blood she needed.

Cree tucked her dirty blonde locks behind both her ears. Her fingers gripped the edges of the remaining earbud and she quickly plucked it from her ear, allowing the loud, garbled sounds of Nicki Minaj to fill the air surrounding her table. A few patrons were sending her nasty looks, but she made kissy faces until they turned away from her.

[Every]

“Pay up, ladies.” She ignored the dirty looks given to her by the three men that she had hustled during the game, adjusting her hold on the cue stick while she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Their reactions had been priceless and worth every moment of looking clueless - she had even held the cue upside down, for gods sake, but then again, it wasn’t the first time she had been underestimated by college boys. As they dug out their wallets, the brunette smirked and listened quietly through the room.

People were trading theories about the Quarantine, talking about the cities’ most wanted - a snicker escaped past her lips as she heard her sire’s name added into it. ‘I wonder what he did this time.’ Every reached up to adjust her baseball cap and then looked back towards the men that were walking near. Four hundred dollars richer. It made her smile. “Thank you.” She snatched the cash and tucked it away into her pocket for the time being, ignoring the glares while she went to put her cue up.

Looking around the Dark Eden, Every pressed her lips together in consideration once more. She had never gone into there before, at least, she hadn’t for anything other than hunting and even then, it was scarce. The brunette considered her options; she could go back to the table and see if the guys would like to win back their money, go to another table and make them sulk in the end, or she could leave. The last option was her favorite at that moment and tucking her hands into the pockets of her jeans, she headed towards the door only to pause at the sight of a familiar face.

“Cree.” She thought to herself before stepping forward, tugging the hem of her shirt down lower before she flashed a smile in greeting to the younger vampire. “I should’ve thought to see you here. Thank you and Parker for the help earlier with the knives, I was running out.” She motioned to a chair, lifting an eyebrow, “Mind if I join you?” She asked curiously.