SEQUEL: SIX

By noon, they were both driving around the city with several shopping bags in the backseat of the convertible, laughing as they sped down the highway.
“Where to next?” Alina asked, her eyes glittering behind her sunglasses.
Shopping had given her all the serotonin she needed to fix her mood but she was just getting started. She intended to be out of the city before noon the next day, Madeline had always said she wanted to visit Tokyo, so what better time than right now?
She might just be running away from her problems but she told herself that she had the freedom to do whatever the hell she wanted, and she couldn't be more right.
“Cali’s Cafe,” Madeline replied, her manicured nails tapping on her phone although she was driving. “I already set a reservation for us.”
Alina sighed blissfully and leaned back in her seat, “You’re the best, Maddie.”
“I know,” Madeline winked, swerving her car abruptly which elicited laughter from Alina and various angry honks from the drivers around them.
Alina’s response to the honks was two middle fingers which she rose to her feet to show so that the drivers behind them could see it properly. Surprisingly, this soothed the anger of the drivers and instead of them swearing at her, all she got was catcalls and hoots.
Alina sat down again and rolled her eyes, Madeline laughing hard the entire time. “Men are such simpletons.”
“You got that right,” Madeline drawled, stepping on the gas and leaving the enthralled men behind them in the dust.
A sweet female valet wearing a cutesy apron that had the words Cali’s Cafe printed on it in swirls was the one to park their car, she had also asked to take a picture with them which they were all too happy to oblige.
Their reserved seat was by the glass walls which provided a superb view of the city, and the owner herself came out to say hello to them. Fortunately, they were given their own space after that.
The cafe was a cutesy little restaurant and most of its patrons were ladies, it was clearly a hotspot for an all-girls hangout.
“We should totally visit a spa,” Madeline suggested, sipping from her strawberry-banana smoothie. “You look like you need a spa,” She tagged on, laughter in her voice.
“You know you don’t have to say much to convince me but yeah I do need a spa session, I need to be all loose and limber for our bar crawl and club time tonight.” She smiled deviously.
Madeline beamed at this, she could always trust her best friend to match her vibe, they always knew what the other wanted. “You read my mind,” She cheered, lifting up her smoothie for a toast.
“I’m sure you have that arranged as well,” Alina said as a statement because she knew that Madeline always knew the right places to go.
“Actually, I don’t,” The platinum-blonde shrugged, “I just thought about it on the spot so there’s no way I could have arranged a place.
“Then leave it all to me,” Alina reassured her, taking out her phone,
In no time, she had gotten superb recommendations and was already ringing up one of the spas to place a reservation, “Hello, this is Alina Costin, I’d like to book a reservation-”
Alina’s trysts meant that she was widely known even in human cities, her popularity didn’t always mean something good though. However, it was advantageous in this case because the secretary knew who she was right away and was eager to fill her in for any time that would be comfortable for her.
“And… done.” She said, tapping a black nail on the red button to hang up the call. “We have a reservation downtown in an hour.” She informed her best friend who had her eyes down on her phone with a prominent frown on her pretty face. “What’s wrong?”
Madeline looked up, “You remember Iyla? I told you about her.”
It was Alina’s turn to frown, she didn’t particularly remember people who were important to her, everyone else was practically fodder, she didn’t care for them. “I don’t.” She said without remorse.
Madeline already expected this because she just launched into an explanation, “She’s the one with all the cool deets on the best clubs around.”
“You don’t say, what happened to her?” Alina asked, sounding bored.
Madeline just sighed, not even bothering to argue the point, “She’s apparently on her way over.”
Alina had a look of irritation on her face, “Did you invite her over?”
Madeline rolled her eyes, “Like I would, apparently, she’s friends with Cali, the owner of the cafe. Cali was the one to tell her that we’re here, I didn’t even know that she was in New York.”
While they were speaking a really thin lady sashayed over, her black hair had streaks of neon blue in them, and she was dressed in a lot of layered clothing which somehow managed not to cover anything.
“I’m sorry for inviting myself out of the blue but when I heard that you were with Princess Alina, I had to show up,” Iyla said, her voice raspy like she smoked a lot.
Alina’s aversion calmed down somewhat when she saw that the newcomer was a werewolf, she still wasn’t pleased about having to share her best friend's attention but it was more tolerable than if she had turned out to be human.
“I’m a little hurt, you’re only here because of Alina?” Madeline spoke with a lifted brow, appraising Iyla.
They had met in a bar in a different city and she had been quick to suck up to her, quickly asking to exchange numbers and advertising herself as having the best knowledge of all the clubs to be at, especially in New York City.
To think that she had gone through all that length just to get to meet Alina because she was royalty made her eyes darken subtly as she listened to Iyla ramble.
Alina on the other hand was displeased by Iyla’s presence because this was supposed to be her outing with her best friend. She didn’t like to share.
The only person unaware of all the brewing animosity was Iyla who chatted Alina’s ear off although the werewolf princess made no effort to keep up the conversation.
“Why don’t you tell me what hotel you’re both in and I’ll come over when you’re ready to leave for the club?” Iyla suggested, her wide eyes full of admiration never leaving Alina.
Madeline was the one to respond, “I don’t think that’s smart, safety wise,” She said with a smile that didn’t touch her eyes, “Why don’t we meet up at a bar? Your pick.”
Iyla had deflated when she was turned down but then she perked up again, “Oh, for sure, I can do that, I’ll text you the location but now I’ve got to run, bye!” She said in a rush, nearly tripping over her feet to get away from the table.
Alina aggressively poked her straw into her smoothie, “The loud bitch made my smoothie melt,” She grumbled.
Madeline on the other hand, studied the fleeing werewolf, she hated to be double-crossed more than anything else. “Don’t worry, that’ll be the last you’ll be seeing of her.” She said coldly, signaling a waitress to change out her best friend’s drink.
Alina’s dark mood brightened again now that Maddie gave her, her full attention again. “You plan to ditch her at the bar?” She smiled mischievously.
“If that’s what you want, I was thinking of something much worse.”
Alina only got happier at Madeline’s words, “I have a feeling that tonight is going to be so much fun.”
-^-
After their time at the spa, they retired to their penthouse suite for a well-needed nap, shopping bags littered all over the bedroom as they both slept side by side on the King-sized bed.
They woke up at sunset and happily got out of bed to get ready for a really long night out. Conversation flowed with ease between the two of them as they showered and got ready, so easily that Alina nearly forgot herself several times and told Madeline about her upcoming political mating.
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her best friend but that she would obey her father regardless of what he asked her to do.
They both wore skimpy dresses that looked painted on, Alina in a dark red dress that brought out her eyes. Madeline had gone for simply black, which perfectly complimented her white-blonde hair and soft blue eyes.
When they were all ready, they made their way down to the parking lot arm in arm and although the night was cool and their arms were bare, they didn’t seem to feel it.
They got into Madeline's convertible and drove off, their signature loud music blaring.
Alina was in such high spirits that even the sight of Iyla didn't upset her - she was confident that Maddie would take care of her after all. Their first destination of the night was the bar they had agreed to meet up with Iyla.
It was just 8 PM, the night was yet to begin. Iyla was in a plaid skirt with fishnets, and a leather jacket over her top, she stood out like a sore thumb amongst the glammed out blondes.
"I'm so happy to see you guys, I thought you were going to ditch me." Iyla smiled widely when they met up, her neon blue highlights catching the club's strobe light.
Madeline was starting to wish they had, she didn't want the ass kisser to ruin their perfect night, she would have to get rid of her soon.
"Of course not, we made a promise." She smiled cruelly, lifting up a manicured pinky finger that had a pink diamond ring on it.
"So about the clubs…" Iyla started to say - giving information about clubs was the sole reason that she had been allowed to tag along with them, she wanted to be useful.
Madeline interrupted her by lacing their arms together, Alina doing the same on cue to her other arm. "The night is just beginning, get a few drinks with us at this bar first." Madeline urged her.
Iyla looked from one werewolf celebrity to the other, feeling like she was going to combust from happiness. This was far far more than she had hoped for. "Sure! I'd be crazy to turn you down!"
Madeline and Alina shared a knowing look over her head as they led her to the wet bar, Madeline winking boldly at the bartender.
The suavely dressed bartender immediately moved closer, shaking a drink in-between dexterous hands, a confident smile on his face. "What can I get you lovely ladies tonight?" He smoothly asked while sliding another customer's drink to them, his dark hair slicked back.
Madeline leaned over the counter suggestively, tapping her bejeweled nails on the counter. "I'd like something fruity and sweet, she'll take the same as well," She tagged on, pointing at Alina who smiled. "And for our new friend, something special, can I trust you to handle that?" She leaned even closer, the bartender doing the same.
"I never asked, what territory do you belong to?" Alina asked Iyla to distract her, giving her her full attention.
Iyla looked flustered by this, Princess Alina had never given her this much attention before, “Um, your territory, Your Highness,” She managed to get out without stumbling over her words.
Alina already knew this, it was simple knowledge really, anyone would have guessed but she had done it anyway for a reason. She glanced at Maddie to see that her best friend had straightened from the counter, and that was her cue to go over to her side so that they could wait together for their drinks to show up.
In a short time, their drinks were handed to them and Iyla made a move to pay but Madeline held up a hand. “Don’t worry, bills are on me, you’re welcome to order as many drinks as you want.” She offered nicely, handing Alina her drink.
Iyla’s muted thanks were interrupted by a duo of human men who approached Madeline and Alina with confidence oozing out of their pores like their cheap cologne.