Jasmin

A small inn had advertised in the newspaper. They were looking for someone to serve in their restaurant. The inn was new. Vampires and humans from the surrounding villages and cities came because of the blood center to either buy blood or pay their taxes. Due to the new rush, a new inn had become urgently needed.

But when Jasmin introduced herself at the restaurant, she quickly learned that the position had already been filled. Still, she got a cup of coffee at the counter without having to pay for it. The owner of the inn sat down next to her and drank coffee as well.

"Why are you looking for work? Child? You're part of the Städter family. You should be well taken care of." The lady shook her head, laughing. "Don't you like sewing? Or dyeing fabric? My parents wanted me to get married quickly after school. Instead, I ran away from home and traveled around the country. I worked here and there at the time. That was much more exciting than my parents' wish. They wanted a large-scale production of grandchildren. Probably because they only had me themselves, although they wanted a big family. I don't hold it against them. They thought it was what I wanted, too. And I also thought for a long time that this was exactly what I wanted. Until I spontaneously packed my bags after an argument. I haven't seen them in two hundred years."

"That sounds like an adventure. But it's also sad. Do you miss your parents? If I could sew, I would like to work in tailoring. But I'm too clumsy. And dyeing fabric is not for me", Jasmine replied. "That's why I'm looking for a job."

The lady nodded. "Have you tried asking in the stores?"

Jasmine shook her head. "Yes. But there were no vacancies." Asking in the shops had proven to be hopeless. "I guess I'll have to try it in the neighboring town."

"The owl", the vampire said suddenly. She tapped her long fingernails on the dark wood of the counter.

"Excuse me?"

"That’s a bookstore. Here in the city."

"I've never heard of this store. And never saw it", Jasmine objected. "I know all the important streets of our town."

The lady smiled. "Even those of the human quarter?"

"No." Jasmin shook her head again. "What am I supposed to do there?"

"You'll find the bookstore there. It belongs to humans. I heard from a few guests that they were looking for someone there to work in the store. Why don't you try it?"

"Working for humans? My family would not like that."

"And?" The lady winked at her and made Jasmine laugh. Since Jasmin had finished her coffee, she thanked her and set off. The older vampire wished her good luck and waved after her.

It took Jasmin a while to find the small bookshop in the winding streets and paths of the newer quarter. Here, the houses were simpler than in the magnificent streets of the vampires. The bookstore was located between two other stores. A bakery and a shoe shop. The windows of the simple wooden house were in the shape of owls. A magnificent owl's head had been carved into the wood of the door. The feathers looked almost real. Nervously, she entered the store. Jasmine had never talked much to humans before. But she had nothing to lose. Only her health, if she ended up working in the factory.

If she couldn't find a job, she might just travel as well. Just like the owner of the inn. Run away and build a new life for yourself. However, she couldn't do this to her parents, could she?

"Oh! Good day!" An older man with kind eyes greeted her cheerfully. "A rare sight. Vampires seldom come to our store. How can I help you, dear?"

"I heard you have a job to offer? I'm looking for work", Jasmin replied shyly. "My name is Jasmin. Jasmin Freirot."

"Ah! The Städter family. I should have known. Your eyes! Like a sunset. I'm assuming you've never worked in a bookstore before?"

"No. Only in the tailor's shop." She looked around curiously. The shop was very colorful. The walls and shelves were decorated with colorful patterns and images of owls.

"Are you good with numbers?"

"Not really."

"Do you like books? I love books. Especially their smell." The man invited her to follow him with a simple wave of his hand. He showed her the entire bookstore, three rooms filled with books, an office, and a staircase that seemed to lead to a basement. "Books are the heart of the store. If you don't like books, you can't sell them!", he said with a laugh.

"I like books very much." Jasmin liked to read. And sometimes she wrote her own stories. Short fairy tales about heroic princesses and brave princes. Or whatever else she could think of.

"What is your opinion about dust?"

"Neutral. But it's not very pretty on books."

The man smiled. "Did you take care of customers? In the tailor's shop?"

She shook her head. "No. My aunt usually took care of that."

He nodded. Then his expression darkened. "Your opinion on humans?"

"The law protects humans. It is forbidden to treat them like lower living beings. Or to think of them as pure food ", Jasmin replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "My personal opinion is neutral. A customer is a customer, right?" She kept to herself that her family had looked down on humans for generations. As if it were a family tradition.

"Food?" The man smiled. "You can start tomorrow. My name is Mert. This is also a family business. My wife Lana currently has a cold. She is still recovering. Apart from that, our son Killian still works here. Our youngest, Angelika, is still at school. She's only nine. Killian is picking her up from her classes. Therefore, you will not meet him until tomorrow. The shop opens at ten from Monday to Friday and closes at seven o'clock in the evening. The shop is closed on weekends. We pay forty coins at the end of the month. That's not much, I know, but we can't pay more. What do you think? Will I see you tomorrow?"

Jasmine nodded. "Yes! I'll be there tomorrow. At ten?"

"Yes, exactly." Mert clapped his hands. "I'll show you your tasks tomorrow. Or I'll leave it to Killian."

"Thank you!" She almost hugged him with joy. Jasmin had made it. She had found a job! She only got forty coins, a third of the money that the workers in the factory got, but she didn't care. For forty coins, a single person could rent a small room, and barely make ends meet. Jasmin, however, had a home. Forty coins were therefore enough.

Her parents were proud of her when she told them that she had found work in a bookstore. She hid the fact that she worked for humans. At the family’s dinner, her uncle already found enough fault with her choice. Even without her saying anything about the humans. Forty coins, in his opinion, was a miserable reward. But at least she had found a job. And not as a cleaning lady. And luckily for her, her family didn't ask any more questions about the bookstore called 'The Owl'. They assumed it was a newer business.

She only told Poppy where exactly she worked late in the evening. Poppy stared at her in horror, then laughed happily.

"Humans!", she whispered. "Our uncle would burst with rage!" She threw a pillow at Jasmin.

"I don't care!", Jasmin replied, throwing the pillow back. "I've found work! With whom, it's none of our uncle's business!" The two played together until their annoyed grandmother knocked on the door to remind them of bedtime.