soon. She stared at me with her eerily
colorless eyes a moment longer then smiled. “I’m glad we understand
each other,” she said as she turned around and flashed to stand
behind the bar. She picked up the silver paring knife and resumed
slicing fruit while she softly hummed.
I stood there for a minute, unsure of whether
it was safe to move or not. Aoife eventually took out two glasses
and poured a shot of cold Jagermeister into each. “Sit,” she
commanded as she poured.
It took a few seconds before I could get my
feet to cooperate with my brain, and I slowly walked over and slid
into a barstool. She placed one glass in front of me and met my
wide eyes with her own. The color in hers had returned and they
were completely back to normal.
She raised her glass and waited for me to do
the same. I was too terrified of her not to comply. “To good
health,” she toasted and I would’ve been an idiot to have missed
the veiled threat.
“To good health,” I mumbled back and slowly
drank the shot, never taking my eyes off her. I had a sneaking
suspicion that she might just be a tad bit crazy and I was watching
her like a hawk.
Aoife swallowed her shot and smiled at me.
“There. Now that that’s behind us, there are a few things that you
should know.” I swallowed hard and listened intently. I was going
to take mental notes. I didn’t ever want get on her bad side
again.
“Archer and I have been together since…” he
voice trailed off in thought. “Well, a lady never tells her age,”
she said finally, flicking her wrist dismissively. “But Archer and
I have been together for hundreds of years, child.” She slid the
garnishes into their trays, wiped her hands on a towel, and came
around the counter with the bottle of Jager, taking a seat next to
me. She poured us another shot as she continued. “Archer and I were
married six hundred years ago. Now, every relationship has their
ups and downs, but we took an oath for life.”
She raised her glass and touched it with mine
before we tossed the dark, thick syrupy liquid down our throats.
“We had a lovers quarrel a little over a hundred years ago and
decided to spend some time apart. But, we are together again, now,
and I intend to make up for lost time.”
I nodded my head and clutched the glass
tightly in both of my hands. Dear God, where is everyone? I
thought in a panic. I just wanted to get away from her. She scared
the shit out of me.
“I can see how you would have been attracted
to him. He is quite handsome…but he’s mine,” she warned again with
a sharp look.
“I understand,” I said in a voice that was
barely above a whisper. “I apologize for my egregious error.”
She laughed and threw her head back. “Errors
happen to everyone, child,” she said as she patted my knee. My body
instantly jumped and I swallowed a scream. “Just don’t let it
happen again or I won’t be responsible for what I might do to you,”
she said, lightly. “After all, he is my husband.” I clenched my
hands together and nodded. She had sounded so blasé just now and it
terrified me. It was if she were talking about the weather, not my
potential death.
Just then Jameson exited the door to Archer’s
private stairwell and made his way down the wide metal stairs to
the first floor. Oh, thank you Jesus ! My eyes were still
wide with anxiety as Jameson walked up to Aoife and me. He looked
back and forth between us for a few seconds and then intently
studied my face. I quickly looked down at my empty glass, afraid
for him to see the swirling emotions that lay just under the
surface of my hazel-green eyes.
“Ladies,” Jameson greeted cautiously. “How is
everyone?” I nodded my head as Aoife poured us another shot of
Jagermeister, never taking my eyes off my glass.
“We are excellent, Jameson dear,” Aoife
purred lightly. “How are you?”
Jameson folded his arms across his chest and
looked down at us disapprovingly. “Alright, you two, cut the