After the jukebox fight, there's no more altercations for the rest of the night. Since it's only a Thursday, though the there's a decent amount of bargoers, it's not crowded or insanely busy by any means.

Oliver stays until closing—which is an hour before sunrise—as does almost everyone else. All of us can walk in the sun, even the damned, but dusk till dawn is still any supernatural's preferred solar time. The night hides far more than the day.

And there are many things to be hidden in the city of Blackhelm.

It takes a few hours to clean up since I work alone, and when I leave the building, the sun has just begun to break through the sky, leaving pink and gold streaks in its wake. Though it's summer, I still shiver in the brisk morning air and wrap my jacket tighter around me.

I drop the current spells around The Shadow Empire building and replace them with a single spell that will stop anyone from getting inside, supernatural or not. I don't anticipate anyone breaking in, but it's always better to be safe, especially when I know the bar attracts less-than-savory characters.

In a city as big and bustling with people as Blackhelm, the bar only has a small parking lot, which is now vacant. Preferring walking to driving or taking a bus, I don't even own a car, much like many other people who live in the heart of the city.

It takes about half an hour for me to walk to the condominium building I live at, a high tower that overlooks Blackhelm. Despite living there for the last five years, the doorman still insists on checking ID every time.

"Jade Quinn," he reads, his eyes flickering back and forth from the card to me about ten times too many.

"Same name as it was yesterday morning," I say, cranky. I'm beyond exhausted and want to go to sleep.

"Blackhelm Heights prioritizes the safety of our residents," he drones dully.

"Yes, you said that yesterday morning, too." Despite what I told Oliver, I don't actually hex very many people.

Maybe I should, starting with this wanker.

He holds out my ID card, which I swipe from his hand. "Have a good day!"

Grumbling to myself, I get in the elevator after he pushes the up button. Once inside, I hit the button to my floor and the code that allows me to access it. The elevator goes up, up, up, and then up some more, until I reach the penthouse suite.

I really hate where I live. I don't, however, hate my roommate.

"Hey, you're back late," Eden notes, looking up from the book on her lap. Her feet are curled underneath her, a light pink, fuzzy blanket resting over her. Even with her thick, golden hair piled in a bun and dressed in silk pajamas, she looks just as rich as she is.

And she really, really is.

"There was a fight. Can you believe that?" I ask drily as I shrug off my jacket.

Eden laughs, unfurling her legs and stretching them out. "It's a day that ends in -y, so yes, yes I can."

I walk into the kitchen, pouring myself a cup of water. "How was studying? Get a lot done?"

"Not nearly enough," she says, her tone petulant, and I laugh.

"Why are you in college again? Don't you already have a hundred degrees?"

"Only sixteen," she corrects. "And you know why I have to be in college right now."

A twinge of sympathy warps my heart. "You could just tell your parents to fuck off."

She looks down, fiddling with the blanket. "You know why I can't do that, too."

Eden suddenly smiles brightly, jumping off the white couch. "Are you hungry? I made chicken kiev last night. I saved you a plate. I can heat it up right now."

"I'll do it," I begin protesting, but she cuts me off.

"No, no, you just worked all night. I'll do it." She waves her hand dismissively, already opening the stainless-steel refrigerator.

I flick my hand, and the fridge shuts.

Eden laughs, turning to face me, and gives me an evil grin.

Well, as evil of a grin as Eden can give.

"You want to play this game?" she teases, shifting her gaze behind me. Her eyebrows furrow with concentration, and before I can defend myself, a chair skids across the white floors, knocks into the back of my knees, forcing me to sit in it. Just as quickly, the dining room table flies across the kitchen, landing in front of me.

I stifle a laugh. "That was an extreme reaction."

"Play to win, baby, play to win," she says playfully, opening the fridge again. I sigh, not wanting to argue with her. She has almost no control over her life; if she wants to control this, then far be it from me to fight her on it.

When the food is heated, Eden puts the plate in front of me, grinning widely. "You're too good to me," I tell her honestly.

She moves another chair over to the new table location, sitting across from me. "No," she sighs. "You're too good for me."

I snort, my mouth too full of food to tell her how full of shit she is. Eden is everything good in the world, rolled into a tiny, witch body.

"Seriously," she insists. "I know you hate it here. It means a lot that you're willing to stay despite that. My parents never would have let me stay on my own."

I suppress a grimace. I really hate Eden's parents. "You're a century-and-a-half old. Most people leave home before that."

She brings her hand to her necklace, a large sapphire gem attached to a chain made entirely of diamonds. No doubt her parents spent a fortune on it, not that it would or could have made a dent in their hoard of money. "We aren't most people," she says softly.

"No," I agree. "We certainly aren't."

"Speaking of my parents..." Eden says slowly. "They really want you to reconsider their offer."

"Tell them thanks, but no thanks," I respond automatically. If I didn't care for Eden as much as I do, I would tell her to tell them to fuck off.

Eden looks crestfallen. "Would it really be so bad if you joined their coven?"

I put down my fork. "Eden, I've told them a thousand times. I don't want to be in their coven, or any coven. I work alone, and that's it. Final answer." I know her parents won't accept a final answer until it's the answer they want, but I say it anyways, knowing they won't care when Eden relays the message.

Eden winces with guilt. "I know. I'm sorry. I just had to ask. They won't quit asking me."

I know better than to suggest that she stands up to them. I don't think I'll see that happen for another few centuries. Maybe not even then.

Instead, I tell her lightly, "If they're that desperate for witches, I'll refer any psyches that come into the bar to them."

She shakes her head slowly, defeatedly. "It doesn't matter that you're a somatic. They don't want random psyches. They want you."

I already knew that. I also know that's the main reason they allowed Eden to move out: so she could be closer to me. I have no doubts they thought sweet, innocent Eden would be able to convince me to join. But since Eden was desperate to live on her own, to have a little bit of space from her more than overbearing parents, I politely refrain from telling them to fuck off whenever they ask me directly or send their daughter to ask. It does suck living in a penthouse bought by them, but at least Eden is freer here with me than she is there with them.

Though it's not much more freedom at all.

"I'm really, really sorry I asked," Eden blurts out. "If you want, I'll ask them to stop asking you."

I shake my head with a small smile. Even if she would do that, they wouldn't listen. And I'd much rather deal with Eden than them.

It's because she reminds you of Lizzie.

I get to my feet abruptly, nearly knocking the chair over in my haste. "Thanks for the chicken. I'm going to go to bed."

Eden jumps to her feet. "Jade, I'm really, really sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

"I'm not," I assure her as I back away, towards my half of the condo. "I just worked all night and I'm really tired. I work again tonight, I'll come say bye before I leave."

Not wanting to hear more apologies gush from her mouth, I turn on my heel and walk into my room, closing the door behind me.

While I fall asleep, I clutch the green amulet around my neck tightly.