Oliver nearly tripped over his own feet as his head snaps up to look at me. Confusion hitting his features as the words seem to sink in before almost reluctantly, he nods.

    "So, you're a Vampire?"

    Immediately he shook his head wildly his dull orange hair falling into his face as he tried and failed to motion.

    Stepping up to the bar I open the door and gesture him inside.

    "So, if you're not a Vampire then what are you?"

    Oliver walks over to the counter before taking his usual seat. Motion for something to write with I pull out the notepad I had gotten from Sheriff Springs and hand it to him. He gives me a soft nod as he pulls the small pen out and of the side and starts writing.

    After a long moment of awkward silence, he flips it over to show me.

    'I'm a half-breed, I'm not completely vampire but I am also not completely human either. I do drink blood on occasion, but I don't need it to live like my father does. I have more of my mother's magical ability. But it comes at a cost.'

    "A cost?" I question as he nods turning the page.

    'I become blood drawn it's the only time I ever want it or need it.'

    "So, what about now? You used your magic a bit ago flinging that Ghoul around."

    Oliver shakes his before pinching his fingers together. For some reason I couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes widening and pointing at me as though it had been the first time he had ever heard it.

    "What?"

    Oliver jumps up poking my throat. Had it really been the first time I actually chuckled like that a genuine chuckle not the half-assed hidden ones I had been so known for.

    "Oliver this ain't the first time you heard that." I respond a slight smirk on my face as he huffs and falls back into the chair. Causing me to laugh as I shake my head. "If your gonna stay and pout you can help me clean up."

    Oliver continues to pout but a soft smile does play on his lips as he hops down and rounds the counter grabbing the broom from the wall, we start cleaning up the best we can with how sticky the floor behind the bar had become.

    Whipping down the counter a sharp jab hits my side, looking over Oliver motions towards the stairs leading upstairs to my abode.

    "What's up?"

    Oliver grabs my arm leading me up the stairs and to the dented in door barely hanging on for deer life.

    "Oh that. The Ghoul got in here while I was out, and it tried to have me for a midnight snack." I shrugged "I'll have to buy a new one but till then." I walk over grasping the door and pulling it completely off the wall.

    "Well looks like someone's still got some muscle to all that dad bod."

    Looking downstairs a lean woman with sharp features leans against the wall dark eyes behind a pair of matching dark shades her platinum blonde hair tied loosely behind her neck as she smirks sharply.

    "Iris..." I mumble voice low and dripping with venom.

    "Hello Mac, hows business been? The place looks like a wreck." She retorts the sharp smirk never leaving her features.

    If I hadn't known any better, I would have said she looks like a bird beak held high in some air of authority but not now, now is not the time to be having this argument as Oliver looks between us utterly confused.

    "Oliver this is Iris; Iris this is Oliver." I say as I put the broken door down against the wall.

    Iris smiles sharply as she pushes off the wall and saunters up towards us.

    "Iris Chambers." She stands beside Oliver holding her hand out to him. He doesn't take it staring at her like she had grown a third head by the time she had climbed up the stairs. 

    Oliver backs up his steps deliberate as he slides behind me his eyes never leaving hers.

    "Well, aren't you a little shy." She smiles lowering her hand.

    "What are you doing here Iris?" I ask gesturing back towards the bar with a cold glare.

    Iris shrugs her sharp heels clicking down the stairs with every harsh step. I give Oliver a pat on the back as we head downstairs. Iris has already made herself comfy in one of the only clean booths her eyes dripping with disgust as she scans the half-cleaned bar.

    "You've really let this place go." She leans on her elbow against the table.

    "Well, when you find a Ghoul downing your supply, shit happens." I shrug taking a seat across from her.

    "A Ghoul?" She questions her voice ebbed with that annoying condescending tone she carries like a shield. Degrading as though she was talking to a child.

    "Yes, a Ghoul." I repeat leaning back. "Now why are you here?" The smile falters for a second before returning sharper as though whatever idea she had been concocting was the best thing in the world.

    "I'm here to buy back whats mine." She finally speaks up leaning on her elbows the back of her hands under her chin.

    "What's yours? What are you talking about?" I question eyeing her suspiciously.

    "The Bar? It was under both our names was it not? I let you have it under the good graces of my heart." She smiles, "Now I want it back."

    "The Bar ain't yours to take, it was my fathers, and it was passed down to me. It wasn't in the agreement." I snap back a soft golden shade hitting my eyes for a second. A hand lands on my shoulder, making me look away. Oliver squeezes my shoulder reassuringly as I take a deep breath. "Look," I say after a few minutes. "The bar was given to me when the old man died, it was never in your name only mine and my fathers. If you think for a second, I will let you take away the last thing I have of my old man, you got another thing coming."

    "Well then, I want to be compensated for the repairs I helped you with when we were married." She huffs.

    "That was what nearly ten years ago... I'd have to go back into my filing cabinet and see if I still have the receipts." I respond leaning back.

    "You have until the end of the week. I'll have my lawyer come by with documents." She smiles getting up out of the booth. "And don't think I won't get every cent back you owe me mutt." She hisses before walking towards the broken entryway. "I'll make sure you will have to sell, won't be anything left of you by the time I'm done."

    With that she steps out her heels clicking against gravel until she gets into her car and leaves with a horrendous roar.

    Once gone I relax my heart beating a mile a minute my fingernails digging into the table's hardwood. Oliver rounds the table taking a seat in front of me his hand clasping above mine.

    'It'll be okay.'

    The voice low and unused dancing around the back of my skull as my eyes snap up at him.

    "Did you just?" I'm at a lost for words as he keeps a reassuring grip on my hand, I think more so to keep me from destroying the table but the sudden added bonus of actually hearing his voice was a welcome surprise.

    'Magic, am I coming in clear?'

    "Loud and clear." I respond and the smile on his face makes my heart stop, my mind spinning as a soft chuckle dance across my mind. "You weren't lying when ya said you are more like your mother."

    Oliver nods as he lifts his hand from mine and takes the notepad form his waistcoat pocket.

    'Any more questions?"