Inside The Red Goblet

As I walked through the dark brown, solid wood front door, I knew that I wasn't leaving this place without a job interview at the very least, if not a job. It was like the doorway was a transformational portal. The version of me that was anxious, doubtful and self conscious that had walked to the door, emerged on the other side, like a phoenix, confident, determined and relaxed. I was in my power.

Walking with purpose, I carefully observed all my surroundings as I made my way to the bar, which was on the right side of the main floor. It was a huge bar and spanned almost the entire length of the wall it was along.

The bar was created to have a very "old world" feel. It was a dark cherry wood, heavily carved by a good craftsman, possibly it was his best work, and it was well maintained, as it had been polished until it gleamed.

I turned my body so that I stood with the small of my back against the edge of the bars' top. I had no intention of sitting on a barstool. The bartender came up to me and asked me in a sultry voice if he could get me something to drink. I knew what he was doing. Turning my head to see his face better, I see that he is about average in the looks department, as far as male vampires go.

"Good luck trying to use any vampire influencing powers on me to get more tips" I thought to myself amusedly. I let out a small giggle.

"No thanks, I am good." I answered him. He looked a bit surprised.

"I will take some information though." I continue. "I would like to get a job here."I turned my body back to face the bar. I saw amusement in his eyes, but his face was cold.

"Do you know if you are currently hiring?" I asked.

"I seriously doubt it," he answered.

"Well, if you are unsure, maybe there is a supervisor or manager around here that I could ask." I hinted, while trying to be as charming as possible. A half smile played on my lips. He looked at me and sighed.

"No, Tony isn't here right now. It's just myself, the three bouncers, and the entertainment staff keeping the ship afloat at the moment."

"So," I asked slowly "there is no one higher up than you here, who I could talk to tonight?" His answer was a simple "no".

Somehow, I very much believed that he was lying to me. But before either of us could say or do anything else, the name "Greg" was shouted across the room in an unmistakably angry tone. The vampire bartender quickly raised his head and his gaze went to someone behind me.

"Stop flirting and get back to work!" the male voice demanded. "We got people waiting on drinks."

I turned my head to the left, just enough so that I could get a look at who had spoken, but without looking directly at him. The speaker was a tall, male vampire, dressed in a designer suit. Everything about him from his suit, and shoes, to the jewelry and hairstyle fitted an image in my head. There could be no better match found anywhere for someone who looked like they were the Italian mafia kingpin vampire. Not only that, but I could sense he was dangerous. My intuition told me that much.

I can only assume that Greg saw the calculating look on my face.

"Please, please, don't do it." He begged me quietly.

But I said nothing and started walking away. There was nothing for him to do but get back to bartending.

The second I turned my back to the bar, I started scanning my surroundings. The vampire kingpin I was searching for was standing facing two other male vampires with his back to me. These other two male vampires looked like they were investors or lawyers as opposed to mafia types.

"Is it a business meeting?" I silently asked myself. Their location was half way between the bar and the large stage. A ways behind them, a staircase leads to an upper floor. But that would not make sense, to hold any kind of official meeting in an area that was so loud and where it was easy to be overheard.

But a moment later, I had things cleared up for me. To my left, another group of three men walked towards my vampire trio of interest. The three newcomers appeared to be human, and I noticed the one who appeared to be in charge. He was taller than the other two and had dark hair and sort of had a nice smile.

The two groups, both human and vampire called out to each other. Once they were close enough, they were shaking hands, smiling, laughing and joking amongst themselves. Then they begin moving en masse, towards the staircase to the second floor.

'Now! I have to move now, or I will miss my chance!'I thought.

"Excuse me!" I call to them, as I run towards them.

They all stop and turn around to face me.

"I am sorry for my intrusion." I say, while looking directly at the kingpin vampire. "My name is Sinead. I want to work here as a dancer. I inquired if your establishment was hiring with your bartender, but he said he was unsure. From what you said to him, I deduced you were his superior. And from observation of your person, I conclude that a man with such presence and caliber as yourself would be able to answer my question." I paused.

No one spoke. The one human looked like he was actually holding his breath.

"Will you hire me as a dancer here?" I asked.

The kingpin vampire started to laugh. "You are amusing, to be sure." he said. "We do need a couple more dancers, but we only hire vampires here."

"I may not be a vampire." I said with my voice full of confidence, "But I can almost guarantee that I am a better dancer than all of your current staff."

The kingpin vampire looked surprised at my words and the other two vampires laughed hysterically.

"Please, just give me a chance to prove myself." I said.

"No." He said flatly. "Go home." He started to turn his back on me.