Lou’s Place.
Portia wasn’t a fan of the name, but it was the boss’s idea. She would make it work, though. Better that than arguing with Lucifer. You picked your battles with him, and this wasn’t a hill she was willing to die on. Hell, it wasn’t even a hill she wanted to look at.
Good thing the bar itself had a classic resort vibe.That, at least, was right as planned.
The floor was made of pale solid wood, and all of the tones were in shades of white and gray with a few splashes of color here and there. Soothing blues, discerning reds, terrifying yellows. A cute little pineapple. An adorable dancing skeleton.
ClassicHellresort vibe.
Of course, the resort wasn’t actuallyinHell. It was on Earth, so the vampires and other earth-dwelling or demon-born creatures could visit. In other words, Hellscape Holiday Resort was in the human realm and accessible toallcreatures.Not humans.Portia shuddered at the thought.
There was a small consolation: humans couldn’t actually find the resort. If they tried to swallow a spirit board, they would still never find the place. It was protected for a few very good … very top secret … causes.
Portia wouldn’t miss interacting with humans. Here, in her new home and place of work, she would only see supernatural creatures. It was better that way for a few reasons, but she didn’t want to think ofthosepesky things on this, her day of victory.
She waltzed into the bar, noting the band of ghosts playing on the small corner stage. The tune was good. Something for everyone would eventually be played. There were a few people in the bar, but given the resort was in a very powerful magic circle, the weather was controllable from Portia’s office.
This morning for the grand opening, she had made sure the skies were blue and full of sunshine. It was hot enough to strip down to your swimsuit but not enough to get swamp-ass-sweaty.
It was the perfect weather to meet a cute stranger and get into some naked situations.
From the bar, the patrons could walk off to the beach and go directly into the water, which, not so coincidentally, could also be controlled from Portia’s office.
Lucifer had given her a whole lot of power, and she wasn’t about to do anything to mess with that. He gave her a mission, and she would do it.
Portia continued to take stock of her surroundings, ready to make any necessary adjustments.
A tall man with a goatee stood behind the bar, shaking a steel shaker with an even bigger dopey grin on his face. His eyes lit up when they caught hers.
“Lou,” Portia gasped. “What are you doing here?” She looked around, half expecting to see the rest of his usual crew lurking nearby.
“Making drinks,” Lou answered like it was the simplest thing in the world to mix a Screaming Orgasm or Zombie Reborn. (Quick tip: donotdrink Lou’s Zombie Reborn unless you want to spend some private time with the floor.)
“You’re making drinks? Really? Couldn’t tell. Seriously, what are you doing here?” Portia refused to believe he was checking up on her. That wasimpossible.
Lou continued to shimmy behind the bar. He only stopped to pour a murky black liquid into a massive glass. With a smile, he slid the beverage to a particularly slimy, greedy demon.
“Can’t a guy come to the grand opening of his own resort?”
Portia slid into one of the barstools and wrapped her knuckles against the bar top. “Might as well make me a drink.”
“You got it. Any special requests?” Lou asked, but there was no point. He was already mixing something. Portia trusted him, but only with drinks. Lou was an interesting character.
As he worked on her drink, Portia spun her seat around, surveying her domain. A beautiful, curvy red-head stood at the bar's entrance, wringing her fingers nervously together.
“As I live and breathe!” Portia gasped, leaping to her feet.
Lou snorted. “You’re not really livingorbreathing, cuz.”
Portia pulled her tongue out. “Whatever, Lou. You know what I mean. But look! It’s Ruby.” Portia nudged her chin toward one of the high bar tables where her niece had settled.
Ruby had the classic Flemming red hair. Classic because it was a trait of all the succubus in the family. It was so long that the wavy tips of the crimson strands touched Ruby’s waist. She was gorgeous, of course.
She had to be. It came with the territory.
“That’s Stella’s little girl?” Lou asked.
“She sure is. Can’t you just see the resemblance?”