I almost looked...attractive. I’d had some problems with my body in the past, always feeling overweight and underloved. It wasn’t until I met Margo that she taught me that anyone can be beautiful. “It’s all about how you own it,” she’d tell me, and I think the message was finally beginning to sink in.
Sure, I was overweight and a little short, but I had curves that other women would kill to have, and I was feeling sexy tonight for the first time in years. This would be my night.
“Let’s go,” I told her, and we headed out the door into her car, heading off to our first time at Club Etherealia. My heart pounded in my chest with both nervousness and excitement, not knowing what was in store for me. But it felt good to finally let loose and do something a little crazy now and then. We were going to a paranormal bar tonight, and anything could happen.
Part Two: Club Etherealia
The club was tucked away in a lesser traveled part of town, but Margo had no problem navigating to it. They put it out of the way on purpose, so that unsuspecting citizens didn’t stumble upon it on accident. I’d heard rumors about how they kept people they didn’t want out, but I didn’t know how all of that worked. Some said the witches had raised a magical force field that only paranormals could get through. Some said the tree-men stood as bodyguards, ready to crush anyone that didn’t belong. There were all sorts of stories, but when we pulled up to the club, I didn’t notice anything unusual at all. It looked like a normal club for the most part. A bright neon sign flashed “Club Etherealia: Paranormals Welcome” and there were several normal-looking cars filling up the parking lot already when we arrived.
I took a deep breath as we stepped out of the car, reminding myself not to fall and make a fool of myself in the high heels I was wearing. “You sure Flint’s gonna come through with the invite?” I asked Margo as I straightened my dress and checked my makeup in the mirror. I was referring to the fairy she’d talked into letting us visit here.
“Yeah, he said everything would be fine, just don’t do anything stupid. You know, the usual. Don’t reveal paranormals in the ‘outside world’ if they haven’t outed themselves already, don’t attack anyone. We’re ‘respectful observers’ is the way he phrased it, but I think as soon as he sees me like this, he’ll change his tune. Hey, maybe I’ll even get a raise at work.” She winked and giggled, starting for the door.
I wished I could be so carefree as her. She seemed to take everything so lightly, but visiting a paranormal bar was no simple business. They worked very hard to maintain confidentiality of their customers, and even though everyone knew paranormals existed, it was sometimes hard to tell who was what in the real world. They had ways of concealing their true selves, developed over centuries of hatred and discrimination against their kind. Only recently had a few started to show themselves for what they truly were, and many were still distrustful of humankind.
I wondered how she’d managed to get us permission to visit. She probably had to sign all sorts of waivers and paperwork. People that broke the rules weren’t usually treated kindly, and I’d heard rumors about people disappearing after visiting the bar even once. I hoped Margo knew what she was getting us into.
As we approached the door, a tall, thin man with a long nose and shining blue eyes looked us up and down. He held a small book in his hand which he was reading, and then looked up as he noticed us.
“Humans, eh? What are you doing here?” His voice was strange, like the rustle of leaves in the wind. Was he one of the tree-man bodyguards? He certainly didn’t look it.
Margo stepped in, saving me from certain embarrassment. “We’re here to visit, Flint should have told you? He’s given us permission for the night.”
The man rubbed his chin, considering.
Ian Caldwell, Dustin Thomason