Mei took the money, pulled out another roll of cash from her pocket, and began putting it all together. Slowly, she flipped through the bills. Some were ones, most were twenties, but there were a lot. While she counted, Mei's lips moved, whispering the numbers in her native language.
Dahlia wanted to kiss her. Or maybe that was her way of erasing the filth she'd just had on her skin. Thankfully, knowing this body was replaceable made it a little easier to accept. The shower had helped the most, even if Dahlia's damp hair was starting to feel chilled in the night air. It wasn't cool enough outside to make that a bad thing, though.
"Two seventy-three!" Mei announced.
"So fucking close," Dahlia groaned. "If I hadn't paid for the ride, we could've left in the morning."
"And there's a bruise around your neck," Mei pointed out. "I think you earned the ride. I also have an appointment already set up, so we're good. We'll get a new place, get tomorrow's date to book a nice room, kick his ass out when we're done, and then - "
"Then what, honey?" a guy asked as he stepped into view.
Mei huffed, her accent audible even in that little bit of sound. "We do not want what you're selling."
"I'm not sellin', sweetheart," he promised, taking a step closer. "I heard you little ladies have some money, see, and I'm taking."
"Do I look little?" Dahlia asked, glancing at Mei.
"You look at least six feet in those heels," Mei assured her.
"And don't weigh more than what, one forty, tops? Probably not even close." The punk thrust out his hand and flapped his fingers. "Pass it over, and you girls can go home and cry about your bad night in the hood."
"You really don't want to do that," Mei assured him. "Boy, I'm kinda hungry."
"Not really my problem, is it?" he asked, gesturing to someone at the side.
A car door opened a few feet over, and two more guys stepped out. Dahlia just sighed. "Please don't get my clothes bloody? I actually like this dress."
"It's a hot dress," Mei agreed.
"Baby, you want to bend over and I'll be glad to keep your clothes clean," the man taunted.
"I just fucked an asshole," Dahlia snapped. "I'm not really in the mood for another."
"Crime rate's pretty high around here, right?" Mei asked one of the guys walking up. "Like, this is just what happens in places like this?"
"Yeah, and you'll be lucky if we don't rape and murder your asses," he warned.
The women shared a look. High-crime area. A few gang-bangers taking each other out. That didn't really count as high risk, did it? And even if it did, they were about to move again, so it was definitely worth the chance of getting noticed.
"You haven't eaten tonight," Dahlia said as she waved Mei forward. "Pick the ones you want. I'll handle the rest."
"He's mine," Mei said, pointing at the first guy even as she pushed her money deep into the pocket of her jeans.
Dahlia just licked her lips and looked at the men who'd come from the car. "Sounds good to me. Gentlemen, would you like to come around the back of the building so no one sees this?"
"The fuck you talking about, bitch?" one of the guys asked.
"Race ya," Mei teased, taking off.
Yeah, she had the advantage because she wasn't wearing heels, but Dahlia was right on her tail. The pair slipped around the first guy, dodged the second, and skidded to a halt as they reached the back of the building. All three of the men followed, rushing in blindly, unaware that they weren't the most terrifying thing out in the night.
Mei grabbed the first one as he rounded the corner, slinging him against the wall to stun him. The second took a swing at her, and Dahlia was on him. She grabbed him from behind, hugging him against her chest as her teeth found his neck. The third guy saw the blood and screamed, turning to run the other way, but he wasn't as fast as an eidolon.
Mei kicked the back of his knee, sending him to the ground. Then she grabbed his ankle and just started walking back to the darkness behind the building. The man screamed again. He tried to kick out and get free, but the little girl they'd been ready to terrorize didn't seem to care at all.
"I'm fucking hungry," Mei told him as she let go of his leg. "Was this worth the money?"
"I didn't do anything," the guy insisted.