Chapter 3

Kitchen

“She called me some weird name and jumped me for no reason!” Sam rubbed his head where Drucilla had pulled his hair, securing a few strands in her pockets for counter curses.

“Balor’s eye! Robbi, he is placing dark curses on these people!” Drucilla waved the piece of paper under Robbi’s nose.

“Hey! That’s mine!” Sam growled, snatching it from Drucilla’s hand. “What’s wrong with you, freak?!”

“That’s enough! Both of you, cease this ruckus! You, Squire! What happened?” Matthew just looked bewildered and shook his head.

“I don’t know. One minute Sam and I were talking, the next, she was on his back, pulling hair!”

“He’s evil, Robbi! His energy is tainted!” Drucilla hissed. Robbi would understand. He’d called her a white witch!

“Uhhhhh…… I don’t know what’s going on, but we gotta get a move on with these theaters! Sam, you two get back to work and move on to theater 3 when you’re done here,” He pointed further down the hall before turning to tower over Drucilla, “You can’t attack fellow employees!” Robbi placed his hand on her shoulder, but Drucilla drew away from him. I thought he was different. I thought he’d understand.

“Why do you talk the way you do, Robbi?” Drucilla had thought she’d found another old soul.

“Huh?”, Robbi seemed uncomfortable by the change of topic, “Oh, I… I work at Medieval Time Dinner Show down by The Strip as a knight during the days. It can get hard to shake the character after talking with tourists all day. But also, it makes people laugh,” Robbi smiled, slightly. He coughed, straightening his features, “But I can’t have you acting like that, Drucilla. Head to the kitchen and help them until I can talk to Stacy about this. Don’t do anything else crazy, and I’ll try to get you a second chance, ok?”

Drucilla stared up into Robbi’s eyes, trying to determine who he was. He seems honest enough. And he does seem to be genuine, but he doesn’t believe me. I’ll have to find more proof.

Robbi cleared his throat and fidgeted, nervously. “OK, Drucilla?”

Behind Robbi, a few yards down the hall, Sam was quietly talking with Devon. They both glanced in her direction. Sam scowled and turned away. Devon looked nervous.

I need to find evidence.

“Very well. I will await your judgment in the kitchen.” Drucilla pivoted on her back heel, and headed to the kitchen.

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“Grab a hair net then and wash your hands over there.” Guadalupe, the head of the kitchen, didn’t seem pleased when Drucilla informed her of the switch. Drucilla winced as she pulled her hair back into the finely weaved net. The constant humming is unbearable! And those lights! Did Robbi mean to torture me?

“You think you’re too good for a hair net? I run a clean kitchen and if we gonna have a problem, I wanna know right now,” Guadalupe glared, hands on rounded hips, waiting for an answer.

What an exhausting overlord.

“If you are, indeed, too busy to train me, I wonder why you have time to watch my every move,” Drucilla commented. See, I can be helpful to you. No need to worry about me.

Gaudalupe appeared to be about to speak, no doubt to acknowledge Drucilla’s point, when a loud noise jerked her attention away.

“Alice! Qué fue eso!” She hurried away towards the walk-in freezer where the noise had come from.

Drucilla walked briskly to the station she had been assigned to, standing beside the fuzzy energy she had seen earlier. The girl had her thick hair tied back at her neck, her brown eyes nervously taking in her new helper.

“Weren’t you starting in concessions?” The girl asked.

“Yes, I did. But my skills were called elsewhere,” Drucilla replied. If all this girl could do was state the obvious, waiting here would be very tedious indeed.

“Huh. I’m Ruby, by the way.”

“Drucilla.” Great. More small talk.

“Kay, so this is way easy. You just spray the pretzel with this water and sprinkle them with this salt. Then put ‘em on the pan and you’re done!” Ruby explained quickly, whipping through the motions.

Drucilla hesitantly picked up a frozen pretzel and laid it on the table in front of her.

“So, like, do you have a boyfriend or whatever?” Ruby was moving frozen carbs lightning fast.

“I don’t use others to define myself.”

“Uhhh….,” Ruby’s hands paused. She glanced at Drucilla, unsure of what to say.

Please sweet Hedylogos, let that be all.

“That’s totally cool!” The girl brightened, “I have a boyfriend, though, but it’s awesome that you’re your own woman, ya know? My boyfriend though, is like a huge secret. It makes it so hot, ya know? And he is so handsome. And so sweet! Just yesterday…” Ruby prattled on as Drucilla stumbled through the steps of prepping pretzels. With her hair pulled back, she kept twitching at every noise and passing shadow. This place is so chaotic! How am I supposed to listen about this girl’s fake boyfriend with all these distractions!

She was mid salt sprinkle when the door next to her station opened and in walked Sam, soiled aura catching her attention. He walked to Ruby and picked up her magenta water bottle.

“Hey Ruby, have you seen my water bottle? The yellow one? I can’t find where I left it.” Sam walked around the girls scanning the kitchen. He looked back at Ruby and jumped when his eyes fell on Drucilla.

“Nope. Sorry Sam,” said Ruby with a smile.

Sam began muttering under his breath, walking around the tables and counters where food was being prepped, shaking Ruby’s bottle constantly.

He’s hexing something! The food? The utensils? Drucilla stopped working to focus on the offending aura. Where is he looking? It could be anything! Sam stopped pacing and noticed her attention. He scowled and stormed to her counter, slamming down Ruby’s water bottle next to her station.

“What are you looking at, freak?” Sam didn’t wait for a response, storming out of the kitchen. So very original. Drucilla considered a few hexes she could use with the hairs she had collected.