Author's Note: This is the second story of "The Mystic" series as I am calling it. Once again all credit for this looking like an actually story and not just words smeared across paper goes to my editor, Goddess_Sarah. Thanks again to everyone reading this, please remember to vote and comment if you like.
-The Devil Man
***
The hotel bar was busier than usual, which was a little unusual for a weekday. It was too early for the clubbers to be stumbling back to their rooms for the night, and it was too late for the white collars to be drinking. Lauren sat in her usual booth, sipping her glass of wine. A maroon color painted her lush lips tonight. Her hair was a lighter shade of red than it usually was in the light of the bar tonight -- it was loose and curled at the bottom. The black halter top dress covered her breasts, but left her cleavage ample, which several young men were eyeing shamelessly. No one had approached her yet, which left her with the feeling that she would not be working tonight.
Mike was "on fire" as they say, telling jokes and generally getting everyone in a good mood. This generally meant that his tip jar was filling rapidly with tens and twenties, and he smiled widely as he hoped tonight's earnings would pay his rent for the month. Everyone seemed to be having a great time as booze ran like water, and laughs were cheap tonight.
Lauren was looking over a woman who sat, almost pouting, at the corner of the bar, stirring her martini idly. Her hair was as black as the night, short with a slight wave to it; her skin was fair and looked very soft and smooth. A short, strapless, silver and black dress covered her just enough, but was still revealing, as her ample breasts were almost spilling out of the top and the dress barely reached her mid-thigh. Her hips were wide, and she was a little heavier, but that only gave her more pronounced curves.
Lauren watched with interest as the woman, who seemed to be in her mid-twenties, shot down every man who made a comical attempt to hit on her. Lauren smirked and felt a tingle between her legs she hadn't felt in a long time. She took her glass of wine and sauntered toward the sad woman. Her matching black heels clicking against the floor, black thigh high stockings clung to her legs, and the short skirt swayed, revealing the tops of the stockings and the garter belt that kept them up.
"I hope I am not being too formal, but may I ask you a question?" Lauren asked as she sat down next to the other woman, her back against the bar watching her face carefully. "You seem to be in the prime of youth and everyone else is having a good time tonight, why aren't you?" The other woman looked puzzled for a few moments before she found her voice.
"Oh, um... I don't know." She shrugged as she answered; her voice was sweet and innocent sounding. "I guess I'm just tired of the whole thing, you know?"
"I'm sorry but I am not sure of the subject we are on," Lauren said, taking a sip of her wine.
"Well I thought we were talking about partying, which is what's going on right now, isn't it? Everyone here is in town for a friend's party we are having on Friday, and some of us got here early to get ready." It was Lauren's turn to look puzzled, as she looked around at the thirty some odd people in the bar.
"You are all friends with the same person?" Lauren asked a bit incredulous.
"Yeah, a friend from high school. He kept in touch with all of us, and a lot of us were knocked down over the years and he was always a phone call away from helping anyone. When my mom passed away, he was at my house the next day. He's a really good guy, so some people called some other people and then they called some other people, and here we are."
"Wow, he must be one of a kind."
"Very." She smiled for the first time so far that night. "I'm Alex, by the way." Alex held her hand out and Lauren took it softly.
"Short for Alexandra, I suppose? People call me Lauren these days, and although I understand your concern about being tired, you've haven't got anything to really worry about, do you?" Alex looked at her, puzzled, before Lauren continued. "Tell me, if you will, do you work?"
"Not really. My family has money and my mom left me a lot when she passed."
"Okay, so you don't need to worry about work and your bills are paid. Then why are you tired? I am guessing you can't be more than twenty-five at best."
"I am twenty-four."
"You see. So why aren't you enjoying yourself? You have every right to."
