by Bea Biddle
In a rush of fury, he picked up the Santa cup from the floor and hurled it at the wall. It shattered and left a coffee stain on the wallpaper. Not that it would be that noticeable between the other stains. "Damn human," he growled to himself as he began pacing the floor.
He didn't notice the clattering the pieces of the broken cup made, not until they had shattered even further on their own accord and started climbing the wall. The tiny pieces scraped along the tattered wallpaper, found the coffee stain and started assembling themselves, clicking noisily together, on top of it. But not into a cup. Into words.
You're needed.
And then they fell to the floor again, lifeless once more. Like normal shattered pieces of ceramics. ”Nice timing, Alyssa,” Cef muttered to himself, “Damn nice timing as always.”
six.
Cef climbed the fire escape outside his windows. The night was wonderfully cold on his skin and the wound on his side had stopped bothering him. He hadn't told Karen at the time, but she had probably been right, he should have stayed down for a while. However, he couldn't show weakness, not to a simple human, it was not his way. The night sky broke and the tiniest sliver of orange showed on the horizon, almost dawn. But on this day the beauty was lost on Cef.
His bare feet padded onto the roof. "Another attack today," he growled, "Damn thing nearly had me."
"Yes, I know." Alyssa materialized out of shadows and joined him, staring out at the brightening sky.
"Spying, were you?"
"I like a bit of drama," she said innocently, "It keeps life interesting. I'm glad you broke the cup, I was beginning to wonder how to contact you without showing up at the door. I wish you would get a phone."
Cef had no patience with her. "The Witches?" he pressed.
"Interesting choice for you, Demon." Alyssa cackled loudly, ignoring his question. "A human? Really? After all these years, quite frankly, I was beginning to think Demons had no interest in sex. I did not expect that,” she said with an impish grin and motioned with her head to his apartment beneath them. “Very surprising. And with her of all people.”
No interest? Cef almost rolled his eyes at how very wrong that statement was. He had always had an interest, perhaps too much of an interest. What Demon didn't? But on this side of the rift, there had been no one that piqued said interest. Certainly no Vamp, no Were, death and beasts, and definitely no human. His past was behind him, his life had changed, but humans were still only humans. Human? He almost snorted at the thought. Humans were weak and fragile, never a Demons first choice. So why had he acted that way? His mind was muddled, and he was unable to make sense of it. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Alyssa watching him with her amused expression. "Just stay out of it, Alyssa," he barked at her in warning. Not that he could take on a Witch, he knew, but he was still angry. Karen was fresh on his mind, and so was her rejection. It was so strange how a rejection from a mere human, a human that he shouldn't even lower himself to want in the first place, rubbed him the wrong way entirely.
"A woman, Cef," Alyssa continued calmly and undeterred, "She'll either cloud you mind or sharpen it. Which will it be?"
Cef growled to himself, whipping a couple of stray dreads out of his face. He walked to the edge of the roof, glaring angrily out over the glinting skyline as he mumbled curses in Demon tongue. Taking a deep breath, his bare chest expanding, before a long exhale, he spoke slowly, curbing his annoyance as much he could. ”That will hardly be a problem. I had a weak moment, I don't know what came over me. It will not happen again.” And, because he couldn't help himself, added gruffly, “Besides, the human was not overly fond of my unfortunate advances.”
"That's not what I saw from where I was watching," she said with a playful smile and bit down on her finger in pure delight as she cackled, excited by the promise of drama on the horizon.
"Then you did not see correctly,” he snapped, pinning her with a glare. His nostrils flared, his eyes shone with rage. He had had enough of this conversation, he would not rehash his rejection for her amusement any longer. ”And stay out of my apartment." He cracked his knuckles and turned his back to her. He was agitated. And frustrated. And thoroughly confused. He couldn't get Karen out of his head no matter how hard he tried, the way she had sat so comfortable in his bed, the way his duvet was wrapped around her, the way she had smiled up at him. And then run out on him. "I made a wrong decision. I should have controlled myself. Now, The Witches?" he pressed.
Alyssa sighed dramatically, twitching her nose, irked that her fun had been spoiled by him so soon. But gave in, she could do without an angry Demon on her hands. "They don't know where it is. They felt it open, a ripple in the ocean of existence somewhere here, in New York of all places. But it's impossible for them to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from." Alyssa walked after him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You have to find it, Cef, before too many of them come through.”
He grunted with a nod. ”I don't want them here any more than The Witches do.”
Alyssa straightened. ”I take it they're coming for you?” she asked knowingly. He nodded again, scratching his neck. ”Then you will have to find it without becoming Demon fodder in the process.”
"Obviously," he remarked with a sneer, earning him a stern look from Alyssa.
She sighed at him again, shrugged her shoulders and softened her features with pity. "Don't take your frustration out on me," she said, laughing. Then she disappeared, into the shadows from where she came, her words ringing in the air after she had gone. "Poor Cef. Women are so cruel."
✽✽✽
Karen lit her cigarette and watched her cab drive down the street. The gray morning light sifted down through the buildings, making the city's loud garbage trucks, early joggers and the newspaper stand opening, appear in a dreamlike mist. She was cold, she wanted her jacket desperately, but all the had to keep her warm was that stupid, black, comfortable shirt Cef had given her. She would have to give it back as soon as possible. She would owe him nothing, not even this stupid shirt that she secretly wished she could keep. Why was she so angry? She had done the right thing and walked out of his apartment. She had done nothing wrong. So why was her anger not only directed at Cef but also at herself? He had been in the wrong, he had been so stupid to ask if he could touch her. Who even asks that? Karen thought bitterly, Who asks if they can touch someone? What a loser. But she was forcing herself to think that way. She had enjoyed him asking, it felt blunt. And she liked blunt. It felt like him. She huffed in the morning air. That's why she was angry, she realized, she was angry that she had wanted to accept his request. And she was even angrier that she was standing there regretting running out on him instead of letting him feel his way around. With his large hands. His large, rough, warm, oddly comforting hands. With the long thick fingers. She bit the inside of her cheek. He probably had a long, thick-
She jumped when her pocket vibrated violently, tearing her out of her thoughts. Slapping her hand over her forehead she immediately felt bad for having thought those things. She was such a sick individual, it wasn't even funny. She pulled out her phone, forcing herself to focus on something else. Even if it was a dumb number she didn't recognize, it would do. “Hello?”
“Karen?”
"Ramona, hey," Karen greeted her in relief. She usually never answered her phone when she didn't know the number, hated it, she couldn't be bothered talking to people who either had the wrong number or wanted to sell her something. And she was quite happy with her current internet and phone provider, thank you very much. But luckily this was Ramona, the bartender at Road Rage, the only woman in existence that could arm wrestle any bouncer and still serve beer with her free hand.
"I have your jacket and hoodie here.”
"So that's where they are!" Karen exclaimed as her memory came back to her. "I was wondering. I forgot, sorry."
"Yeah, I guess you didn't need them after lover boy gave you his coat," Ramona purred into the phone. Karen didn't have to see her
face to know she was grinning. That only made Karen roll her eyes. "Oh, do tell, Karen, don't hold out on me. Who was that Mr. tall, dark and smoldering? I haven't seen him around before. I hope this means you finally kicked that useless twig of a boyfriend out?"
“Ramona!” Karen growled into the phone, but oddly enough couldn't muster up the energy to defend Colin this time. “You shouldn't spy on your customers,” she scolded instead. “Bad for business.”
Ramona laughed soundly. "Fine, fine, don't tell me who it is, but do tell me if it was as good as he looked?" Karen could practically hear the glint in her eye and the wide smirk on Ramona's lips.
"I'll pick up the jacket later, just leave it behind the bar for me, please. Thank you," Karen mumbled and hung up as fast as she could. She felt so embarrassed. She hadn't cheated, she kept telling herself that, but it felt like she had. She was the one who had crossed a line, not Cef, and she felt so guilty it hurt.
Slipping the phone back into her pocket, she stomped out her cigarette on the sidewalk when a long, sleek, red car pulled up beside her. It parked with the engine still running. The woman in the driver's seat lazily turned her head to Karen, half her face covered by overly large sunglasses and framed by a sharp, red bob, obviously dyed, no one had a hair color like that. Karen felt like she should say something to the woman observing her in uncomfortable silence, but before she could open her mouth and mutter a greeting, the woman sighed in complete boredom and turned her head from her, sitting back in the seat.
"Karen!" Colin exclaimed in surprise as he walked out the front door behind her. He bounced down the few steps to her. "You weren't in bed when I woke up. I was so worried, where have you been?"
"Out with Dani," Karen explained, "You look good today." He did. He was always impeccably groomed, not a blonde hair out of place on his head, he could spend hours plucking and shaping his eyebrows. His shirt was neatly ironed and tucked into his pants. His tan jacket fit him snugly and his tie was impossibly straight, like always. Yeah, you were obviously worried sick, she hissed inwardly when saw how well put together he was, he would have spent a long time in the bathroom for that. She quickly pushed the thought aside, it wasn't Colin she was angry at. It was herself.
"Thanks, babe," he said. He smiled at her with a hint of apprehension, or was it uncertainty, she couldn't quite tell. She shook off that thought too. "I'm off to work, I'll see you later," he exclaimed with a small laugh.
"Alright." She leaned in for a kiss, but the car horn blared making her jump back in shock.
"That's my boss," Colin explained, motioning to the car with a quick jerk of his head, "I have to go. Can't keep her waiting."
He danced around her awkwardly, his briefcase bumping and pushing against her thighs as he did, and she almost lost her footing. "Hey!" she yelled out, regaining her balance.
"Sorry." Colin laughed and gave her a quick peck on the lips before running to the car. "I'll see you later, babe. Get some sleep before work tonight," he yelled at her as he got in. He barely had time to shut the door before the engine roared and it sped down the street and out of sight.
✽✽✽
Colin didn't come home before she left for work. He never managed to. He worked almost day and night at that place. Must be incredibly busy, she mused to herself. The diner was busy as well. That pleased her, she couldn't be bothered sorting out her own thoughts when it was so much easier sorting out dinner orders. She was just in time for the dinner rush as well, with Weres already around the tables, and Zac hurrying between them serving the meat they craved so much.
Sylvester lounged, with his usual self-assured smile, against the doorway to the kitchen, sipping on his ever-present wine glass of blood. "Good evening, Karen," he greeted with a nod.
"Hey Sly," she mumbled as she pushed past him into the kitchen, placing her bag on an empty chair. Pete was busy as always, the place smelled like a butcher but the sound of the meat grinder and slabs of steak slapping onto plates was thankfully, partially overshadowed by the loud, very much welcoming, powerful tunes of Aretha Franklin's Respect. Yes, that's exactly what she wanted, just a little bit of respect. Was that too much to ask?
"You're in a mood today," Sylvester noted as he followed her, "What's got your panties in a twist this lovely evening? And would you like me to untwist them?" He pushed a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his silky fingers lingering on her earlobe.
She pushed him away, ignoring the little shudder running down her spine. "Just leave me alone, Sly." She picked up her notepad and tied the little apron around her waist. No matter how many times it had been washed it was still stained with blood. She had quickly learned not to care about that. Not the way these guests ate. "I'm fine, I'm absolutely fine,” she ground out through a clenched jaw that fooled no one, least of all herself.
Sylvester raised an eyebrow at her. ”Clearly.”
Karen bit her lip and couldn't help the defeated sigh as her shoulders slumped. Tugging the notepad into her pocket she shook her head. “I'm a little off today, sorry. I just- I just need to work, you know?”
”By all means,” he said with a shrug, sipped his glass and walked away without further probing. Thank goodness for that. Karen knew if he started prying then she'd break open like a book, and the last thing she wanted was for Sylvester to know. Because he'd know. He'd just know. One stupid word from her and he'd just know how she felt about Cef. That damn Sylvester, too clever for his own good. No one could know anything. It's only a stupid crush, she told herself sternly, having no choice but to finally admit it to herself, It's only a stupid, little crush, it's nothing serious. She had been attracted to people before and done nothing about it. In fact, it was quite a human thing to be attracted to people. A very, very human thing. She ground her teeth. Obviously, these undead, or overly hairy, people wouldn't know anything about it being completely normal to be attracted to someone and then doing absolutely nothing about it. And then forgetting about it. No, it was probably for the best if no one knew anything.
"Hey, watch it," Zac called out. Deep in her thoughts, she had walked out into the diner and almost walked into him again, or through him. However, this time she managed not to knock his tray on the floor.
"I'm sorry," she quickly apologized, and confessed, "I was miles away.”
"Don't worry about it," he said and put his tray down. He flipped his hair out of his face and gave her a wide, friendly grin. "Are you Ok?"
"Yeah, yeah I'm good," she lied and faked a smile before quickly walking off to her table, taking the first order of the night. Raw meat. What a surprise. Twenty-three plates, and four bottles, later, she scanned the diner and noticed, to her great annoyance, that she had nothing more to do, she had been so ready to throw herself into work and nothing. Her section was full, but it was just Weres sitting, talking and laughing, chewing and eating. It wasn't transformation week, and the utensils provided were in use. A rarity. That did slow things down a bit, and she couldn't even put into words how relieved she felt, that cleaning the tables at the end of her shift wouldn't be absolutely horrible.
She was leaning on the counter, eying the room, when Zac came and stood by her. He flipped his hair out of his eyes again and sighed, leaning on his elbows next to her. "Sometimes this job gets really boring," he said with a laugh. He had probably read her face, she was staring into thin air, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Which was true to an extent, but anywhere else the same thoughts would still be running through her head. Cef. Why was he still on her mind? That damn, irritating Demon.
"Yeah," she agreed reluctantly, "Is it always this quiet after transformation week?"
"Well, kind of. I mean, any week that's not transformation week tends to get a bit repetitive."
”I see,” she mumbled. She checked the phone in her pocket, it was only ten past eleven. Vamps would start showing up soon, then at least something would happen. Vamps were odd, they were all so graceful and elegant, stunning and beautiful. But they were also
a crude and lascivious bunch, sometimes their innuendos and playful remarks didn't even register with her until she had turned the sign to Closed. And then she found herself walking home blushing from head to toe. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt eyes burning into her, someone was staring, and when she lifted her head, she locked eyes with Zac who quickly looked away with a nervous chuckle.
"Sorry,” he breathed, “It's just, well, it must be really strange being human here.”
"What do you mean?"
"With everything going on around you the way that it does. When I died and found out about Vamps and Weres and such, it was more than I could handle. I was in hysterics for the better part of a week." His eyes were wide as they looked through her, she had no doubt he was looking back to that time. He shook his head slightly, horror etched on his face as he recalled the incident in his memory. “And not just because I realized I was dead, that I was now a Ghost, a restless spirit,” he added slowly. He came back, focusing on her again with a forced smile, willing himself to relax. “But you, being alive, having to deal with all this. I'm surprised you still walk the streets.”
"Ah well," she breathed and waved her hand in the air dismissively, waving off the seriousness of the conversation. “It's not like they're monsters. Admittedly, I did freak out pretty bad at first. But then, I don't know, for some reason, this place began to make sense to me." She shrugged when words failed her. "I don't know, is that strange? I probably should have been scared, but oddly enough I just, kind of, fell into the rhythm here. Besides, it's not like they're some kind of aliens." For some reason she faltered, it didn't feel at all politically correct to talk of a group of citizens like that, and she wasn't completely sure how politics worked in their world. "They're pretty civilized. Everyone needs to eat, and everyone should have a place to be welcome. I'm glad the diner exists."
"Yeah, I guess."
