Chapter 17: Socialising..

Gabriel moved to sit at the grand piano, only half-listening to Luther's reports. The last of them were of idiotic vampires almost getting caught by humans. There was, however, an interesting one about multiple murders across the coast, each body drained of blood. But he sent one of his men to investigate and bring them to the dungeon once they found the culprit.

Now he merely played on the piano, his fingers running over the keys gracefully, his thoughts on Esme. He regretted pushing her into the wall because she called him by the nickname his ex-lover called him. As soon as he saw her flinch and the panic bubbling behind her eyes, he felt his chest tighten.

He should not have lost his temper like that, people had called him by that name mockingly before just to get on his nerves, but because it came from her lips, it rattled him. He preferred her calling him by his given name. It rolled off her tongue delightfully.

Gabriel wanted to hear her thoughts more, but it was a struggle, and he wondered how it worked with her blocking him out. Over the centuries, Gabriel had come across people whose minds were guarded, but if he wanted to, he could still read their thoughts. They were more like whispers, and he learnt it was because they were extremely shy or had a dark past restricting them from opening up.

"You know, if I lived forever, I'd be such a boss at everything too."

Gabriel paused his fingers and looked up at the she-wolf who had somehow crept up on him and was standing there gently smiling at him. He expanded his mind to listen to her thoughts, and there they were..

He plays so beautifully; I wonder what he was thinking about. It's been hours, but he didn't rest his hands once. Darn vampires.

Gabriel hid a smirk and tried to read into her memories, but like a click of a switch, her mind suddenly went silent. Her dark eyes were locked with his, but she looked expectant. He looked away, realising he'd been staring at her without commenting.

"You have only seen me play the piano yet believe I would be good at everything?" He said playfully.

Esme parted her lips to reply, then closed them nodding her head only to step back after Gabriel rose from his seat and leaned towards her, smirking. "You presumed correctly; I am good at everything. Maybe I will show you more of my.. skills," He purred; his eyes seemed to almost pull her towards him.

Esme gulped from the suggestiveness behind his words and the look in his dazzling eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when he leaned away and started to walk towards the door. "Come straight here tomorrow," He spoke over his shoulder before the door clicked behind him.

She couldn't understand why she was put to work in the VIP room, and Gabriel didn't really need her there. Luther exited an hour before and told his security to wait outside the room, leaving her alone with Gabriel. Esme would have been twiddling her thumbs on what to do but ended up chilling on the sofa watching him play.

He didn't even notice.

Was he really that comfortable with her around him, or he was so powerful nothing could hurt him?

Esme shook her head. Although the last hour had been pleasant, the piano playing calming her angst, she had been restless beforehand. Her thoughts had been on those rogues, and although Esme was curious about them, she didn't want to risk exposing herself. At the most, she would need to be careful, blend in more, not to stand out. That much she knew how to act.

Esme returned to the main bar, her shift almost over, and from seeing the other staff members she hadn't bothered getting to know, it seemed Leo, Rory and Hana were also finishing.

"There she is!" Hana pointed to her with a wide grin on her face, her curly hair bouncing around her heart-shaped face. Esme raised a brow in return as she started to walk behind the bar. "You're coming out with us tonight, right!?"

She looked at the clock on the wall to the side. "Not like that! We can get dinner and have some drinks!" Hana exclaimed, then clasped her hands together in front of her, looking at Esme with a pout.

She was a little nervous, but maybe it was good to hang out with some humans right now. "Sure," She smiled and cringed at Hana's slightly high squeal.

In the changing room, Esme dressed back into her jeans, hoodie and leather jacket; she pulled her hood up as she exited through the fire exit door, meeting Hana and the two guys for their little outing. While observing her surroundings, she replied casually to their conversation.

Being with a group of humans could serve its purpose right now, she wouldn't stand out much, and her scent was already covered by the vampire's and now humans. However, if the werewolf was a skilled tracker like her mother, they would have no issue finding her. If it was a rogue, then she didn't have too much to worry about.

But this was her quietly panicking about these rogues near Chester. They could easily be passing through, but she didn't get this far by being relaxed. Esme didn't mind being paranoid in moments like these. She kept her head down, glancing at her surroundings while walking by Leo's side, and his large frame could also hide her.

"Man, it's like you thought of everything," Isana snickered. Esme smirked at her wolf's comment; it was true, she reluctantly went with this group for some drinks, but she was less noticeable with others around, especially when she was so small. Plus, it was better than returning to her bleak apartment so early.

"It's nice to finally hang out outside of work, Es," Leo wrapped his arm over her shoulders, making her jump from the sudden contact. "Woah! You okay?"

Esme laughed it off, "Yeah, sorry I was so lost in thought, you made me jump!" Though she made her excuse, her body was still a little tense.

"Well, get ya head out of the clouds, beautiful, you can't waste this perfect opportunity to talk to me," He winked, earning a fake gagging sound from Hana, who was walking ahead with Rory. Rory shook his head, but his attention went back to Hana, looking at her fondly.

Esme shrugged out of his arm and rolled her eyes. "Easy there, big fella, you better be good company. The pressure is on!" She joked, putting her hands in her hoody pocket.

"Hey! I'm not that big. You're just tiny, ya midget," Leo playfully leaned his arm on her head, which she swiftly moved away from, picking up her pace to catch up to the two ahead of them.

"Yo, where are we going anyway?" Esme asked while checking out the skyscrapers and the fancy bars and restaurants they walked past.

"How about we check Lenny's place out?" Hana smiled cheekily, wiggling her eyebrows at Esme.

"Absolutely not." Both Leo and Esme objected, halting their steps as they looked at each other.

"Pfft! I was joking, guys, jeese. I couldn't relax at his anyway. He's a scary, beautiful but scary man. I don't know how you are friends with him, Es," Hana tittered nervously.

Esme smirked. "We are more like acquaintances and.."

"I've met scarier men," She mumbled under her breath, looking away.

"Well, at least you're with us now, hey," Leo replied with a gentle smile. She didn't realise the rest of the group heard her.

Shit, she needed to-

"Here we are, ta-da!" Hana interrupted her thoughts, waving her hand in the direction of a quaint and quirky looking bar down the side of an alley. Its lights outside revealed two barrels with seating and heaters out the front and a welcome sign.

"That was good timing," Isana murmured.

Rory opened the door to 'Freddies' for the two girls. Esme assessed the area, taking note the only exit was the entrance. The bar itself had a brown and white chequered linoleum flooring, a single small bar with photo frames of past workers, many dangling lamps hung from the ceiling and to finish off this look, was the bartender who had a curled moustache and bold head.

"Well, hello, Hana! Rory!" The bartender smiled, his eyes crinkling in pure happiness at seeing them. Maybe they'd been there enough times now to become a regular?

"And who is this?" He beamed at Esme. She smiled genuinely at the guy; he seemed like a nice person.

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"Esme," She replied, "it's nice to meet you."

"Hey, you're never that nice to us!?" Hana pouted, "Even after going shopping with me!"

"You can't win everyone over, Hana," Rory smiled and received a light slap on the chest.

"Esme, what a beautiful name. First drink on the house for this lovely woman!" The bartender cheered loudly.

"That's why.. Cheeky benefits of being pretty and polite.. I see now.." Hana joked and giggled after feeling Esme's glare.

"Leo," The bartender's voice dropped as he looked at him. "No trouble tonight, you hear?"

Esme looked at Leo in surprise; she didn't peg him for a troublemaker. Leo rubbed the back of his head, flexing his muscular bicep straining against his shirt, "It won't happen again, Freddie."

"Good, don't shit where you drink.. if you get my drift. Liz and Charlie were good regulars. They haven't been back since!" Freddie grunted in discontent.

Esme climbed into a small brown leather booth behind Rory and Hana, dropping her bag on the ground watching in amusement as Freddie scolded Leo. "What happened?" She asked the others in curiosity, a smile playing on her lips as she could already guess what Leo did.

"Leo slept with both women, and they found out. The girls fought each other in here," Hana informed her.

"It was entertaining," Rory chuckled, then gasped after Hana elbowed him in the ribs. "But it was!"

"Hey now, you make me sound like a pig, Hana." Leo climbed into the booth sitting next to Esme. "She's left out the part where I dated them separately in different years. It's not my fault if they can't deal with it."

"They were best friends!" Hana exclaimed, only to watch Leo shrug with a smile.

"Oh, that's low, Leo," Esme chuckled at his pouting face.

"I can't help my looks, guys! Leave me alone!" He cried out.

Esme shook her head. "Looks have nothing to do with it," Rory chuckled and passed over the beer Freddie placed in front of him. Esme thanked the bartender and eyed the cocktail in front of her.

How did he know what she wanted?

"I ordered it for you," Leo smiled at the confusion on her face.

"Oh," Was all she could respond before slurping on the straw.

The group soon after ordered some dinner, and the others were surprised at how much she could eat. Her frame was so small and slender, she couldn't blame them. They hung out at the bar until closing time; Esme thoroughly enjoyed their company and the funny stories that were told.

"Es, I don't know how you can hold your drink better than Leo!" Hana clapped her hands in laughter. Esme smiled and looked at Leo's rosy cheeks.

"Not like you're any better off!" Leo grunted before downing his beer and slamming the pint glass on the table with an audible 'ahh'.

Sipping on her cocktail, Esme hid her smirk. Werewolves had a higher metabolism; she could eat and drink however much she wanted without putting weight on. Though, it also meant she'd lose a ton of weight if she didn't eat enough, which was the case over the last few years.

It was such an odd feeling to be with others again, to socialise. To feel the warmth in her chest and have a genuine smile on her face. She felt comfortable sitting with them, letting her guard down only partially. It had been a very long time since she socialised properly. The last time was..

She flinched after picturing Ruby's face and instantly decided she'd done enough socialising for one night. "We should head off. Freddie looks tired," She suggested. Even though the bar was meant to be closed, the bartender had kept it open only for them.

The others quickly agreed, and they said their farewells to Freddie, leaving a large tip and promising to see him soon. Esme slung her bag on her back and followed the others out, waving him goodbye. But as soon she stepped outside, she tensed at a sudden scent wafting around the area.

Esme's eyes searched the surrounding alley and buildings, warily glancing at every dark corner, shadows and bins. The humans were none the wiser, oblivious to the possible danger.

"Es?" Leo called after her.

The others were at the end of the alley waiting for her. She smiled and quickly caught up to them.

"Get rid of them," Isana urged.

"I'll see you tomorrow," She started backing away from the group in the opposite direction. "I live the other side of the city."

Leo stepped forwards, "I'll walk you home. It's not safe at this time of night."

Esme raised her hands, "I'll get a taxi, and if not," She pulled her knife out, flipping it out swiftly and letting it spin on her hand, startling the others. "I can take care of myself," She winked.

"Is that always on you!?" Hana gasped, "I knew it! This is why Lenny doesn't scare you! Nothing phases this girl!" She hollered to the street.

"Shh! Keep it down!" Rory put his finger on Hana's lips and smiled at her giggling.

"That doesn't mean you are safe," Leo insisted, his brows furrowing together as he started to walk towards her again.

Esme held her hand up, stilling after the wind blew across that distinguished scent towards her. "I'll be fine! I'll text you when I get in, guys, don't worry!" Esme replied and spun around, ignoring any other attempts at Leo walking her home.

"Please do let us know when you are in!" Leo called after her as she continued to walk down the street. Esme stopped after hearing their footsteps and turned back towards the alley the bar was at.

There was another rogue in the area, and it seemed they weren't covering their scent. It was too strong and obvious.

They were testing her.

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