Chapter 4

Box Office

“Yikes! What’d you do to him? He’s never like that!” Ruby leaned away slightly, seeming worried.

“Nothing he didn’t deserve, I assure you,” Drucilla resumed their labor, and hesitantly Ruby did the same. She began her one-sided conversation again and Drucilla tried to figure out what Sam had actually been up to. Who could be his target? What in here would cause the most trouble? But without more information, Drucilla was at a loss.

“Or I can just get it,” Ruby said, slowly reaching across Drucilla for her pink water bottle. Drucilla looked up, startled. She must have asked me for her water. She suddenly realized that Sam had put that water bottle by her, not Ruby. She, herself, must be the intended target! Without another thought, Drucilla leaned forward and bit Ruby’s outstretched arm.

Ruby screamed, wordlessly wailing as she shook her arm free of Drucilla’s grip.

“Estas loca?!” Guadalupe’s face turned bright red, running to the commotion. “Who goes around biting people!?”

Drucilla sighed and began explaining. “There was cause. Her water bottle has been hexed and I didn’t have time to stop her any other way.” She emptied the offending bottle out in a nearby garbage, dropping the bottle in emptied. Really. I’m running out of patience with this woman!

Ruby, clutching her arm still, angry. “That’s my bottle! Sam’s right, you are crazy!”

Guadalupe hadn’t stopped yelling, “I want you out of my kitchen! I don’t care where you go, but you need to get - out - now! As soon as I can find Stacy, you’re going to be so fired! She should have known better than to give someone like you a chance in the first place! Get out! Go!”

“Fine. I shall depart,” she said in cold anger. Ungrateful. I saved that poor girl from untold pain and I’m the one who gets kicked out. She paused on her way out of the kitchen, next to one of the loudly humming ovens. Looking down the back of the oven, dusty wires looped from the motherboard in various colors. She checked over her shoulder to see that Guadalupe’s attention was on Ruby before reaching behind the oven and pulling a wire out. “Taranis help those churros of yours,” she muttered, feeling slightly better.

As the door swung shut behind her, she heard Guadalupe ask, “What did she say?”

Finding herself once more in the hallway leading to the lobby, Drucilla was at a loss as to what to do. I’m never going to find any answers by standing here.

The lobby was filled with customers and the swirl of people drew her attention. They appeared like ants, everyone heading in a different direction, but each with a purpose. Heading outside, heading to a theater, running for the bathroom, getting food, buying tickets…. I saw one of the coven enter the box office. Maybe she’s still there. With her own purpose, she entered the crowd, avoiding Stacy at the customer service desk. Dodging warm bodies was nearly impossible, and the noise of people chatting mixed with the popcorn popping and the tin whistles from the slot machines was like an assault on her ears. Misery! This is awful! Removing her hair net and shaking her hair down, she glared in concentration, clenching her teeth and focusing on her goal. Oddly, people seemed to give her more room, almost clearing her path.

Reaching the door, she pushed down on the handle and slid into a narrow, yet long rectangular room with a large window looking into the lobby. A row of screens waited quietly on the counter that ran the length of the room in front of tall, padded stools. Sure enough, on one of those stools, rested the blue haired wench she had noticed earlier.

“Who are you?” The girl demanded, seeming frazzled with a busy energy.

“I’m Drucilla. I’m here to be trained.”

“Seriously! Right now?!” Blue hair seemed frustrated, “I’m busy enough with no help and they want me to train a noob? Well sit down!” She pointed to the stool next to her, “I’m Brittanee.”

Drucilla cringed. Of course she is.

The system was not very complicated, and it didn’t take long for Drucilla to start up her own till and help customers. The window blocked most of the noise and the tinted glass muted colors enough that nothing distracted her from her task. It was a very peaceful environment, except for the oil-slicked aura seated next to her. Customer after customer came without a break, but calmly, behind that barrier, Drucilla helped them all, until the rush had died down and Drucilla was able to take a breath and remember why she had come here.

 Subtlety is necessary. Hopefully she hasn’t talked to Sam or Devon yet. “So tell me about your coven. No need to be secretive. I myself dabble in the mystique. Surely your group could use another skilled hand.” Drucilla widened her eyes, hoping to convey sincerity. Nailed it.

“For real, none of that made any sense,” Brittanee paused to stretch her arms behind her back, “But I’m real glad you came in when you did! I’m surprised you caught on so fast. How long you been working here? I don’t remember seeing you around.” Brittanee’s demeanor had eased up and she stood up to stretch her legs, walking the length of the room away from Drucilla.

How am I to gain her trust? Perhaps she should consider a more drastic approach. She palmed a small, indistinct doll from her pocket keeping it out of sight and started looking by Brittanee’s deserted till for some stray hairs.

“Not long. Today is my first day.”

“Wow. They never train people here till they’ve been here a while.” Brittanee arched her back.

A single blue strand draped off the back of the stool next to Drucilla. She glanced back to her companion, who was now touching her toes, before snatching the hair and wrapping it quickly around the doll’s head.