by Bea Biddle
"It's not your fault, Zac." Alyssa was the first to speak. "You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."
”That's right,” Sylvester agreed and walked over to the shaking Ghost. He placed his arm around the boy's shoulder and gave him a friendly squeeze. ”Let that be a lesson to us, never go with a strange man into a basement, even if he does offer you two dollars,” he said a laugh. Zac's cheeks blushed even more, it was hard to imagine that being possible. ”So it turns out one of us here actually has been present at a rift opening, interesting. See, I knew there was a reason we were keeping a human around, I just had to be reminded. Don't you think she was being quite clever there, old boy?" he asked Cef innocently.
Cef only grunted his reply, Karen couldn't hear what he said, if he said anything at all. She wasn't sure she wanted to anyway. Cef turned his back to her and continued staring at the map. She watched his back, it was a wall blocking her out again. Damn him. She snorted at it for good measure. "I'm sorry, Zac, I didn't mean to push you."
Zac smiled weakly at her and shook his head. "It's alright. I just- I'm really embarrassed, and all this talk of the stones makes me feel a little funny inside."
Well, that, and maybe Sylvester's arm around your shoulder has a small part in it, too, Karen thought when she saw the Ghost's admiring gaze flicker to the handsome Vamp, his eyes sparkled as Sylvester squeezed him tight. She shook her head with a small grin to herself. Sly has got to stop toying with you.
"Do you remember anything else?" Alyssa asked him, "Do you remember how he opened the rift? Who was this man? A Witch perhaps?”
Zac shook his head. "Only that he spilled my blood over the stones, and then I was gone. The man himself was nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal human. Nothing I can put my finger on.”
"Thank you, you are a dear, but unfortunately that doesn't help us very much." Alyssa sighed heavily. "So, what are you going to do?" she asked Cef. Alyssa was nervous that night, Karen hadn't seen a single smile since she had materialized in the diner. It was unlike her, she was usually always smiling. But today she was on edge, her hair was a mess and her coat buttoned wrong. Her face seemed older, creases lined her mouth and eyes.
Karen could tell by Cef's back that he was in deep thought. He shrugged and shook his head. "Keep searching," he answered, "I need to find it, I need to find out how many are here already." He turned his head, glancing at Karen but refusing to catch her eye. "You should go."
"Excuse me?" Karen spluttered. It was the first thing he had said to her all evening and it was telling her to leave? She was just about to unleash her wrath on him when he continued.
"You'll be late for your coffee thing," he added, trying to appear indifferent but the pointedness of his words showed all too clearly.
Karen scoffed at him before checking her phone. Ten to six. Annoyingly, he was right. Colin would be there soon. She really did need to go. "I'm leaving," she announced, mostly to Cef, "But not because you told me to," she added and only then realized how stupid it sounded. When had she become so petty? Cef was really getting under her skin, everything he said, everything he did, she wanted to throw it back in his face. And what for? A reaction? What was wrong with her? She rubbed her forehead, she really just needed to get this stupid breakfast over and done with.
With a quick goodbye to everyone, not including Cef, she had her jacket on and tips safely stored away in her wallet and left the diner in a run. She couldn't risk Colin showing up there again. No, she had to meet him halfway.
✽✽✽
"...So then I walked into the pharmacy and looked around, and I couldn't find Q-tips anywhere. The pharmacist came over and asked if I needed help, and you know how my first instinct is always to go 'No, thank you, I'm only browsing'? Like when I go clothes shopping, I absolutely hate it when salespeople keep pushing clothes at you, I always say no straight away. So I did, I said no so fast without thinking. But I really couldn't find these Q-tips anywhere and then it hit me that I had just said that I was browsing in a pharmacy. Who does that? Who browses in a pharmacy? What is there to browse? Painkillers and bandages? Anyway, I felt really awkward walking around looking at random shelves, so I wanted to go back to the pharmacist and tell her that I really did need help. But in the meantime, that pharmacist had started talking to another customer, and I couldn't very well go to the other pharmacist, because I had literally just told one pharmacist to go away and I really didn't want the first pharmacist to think that I actually did want help, but just not from her, you know? I would hate for her to feel that I had something against that particular pharmacist. I ended up just leaving without the damn Q-tips.” The endless stream of words flew out of Karen's mouth so fast she almost forgot to breathe. "And now I'm pretty sure I can never go back to that pharmacy," she finally finished, ”They probably think I'm weird.”
Colin chuckled at her and reached for her hand that was lying on the table. She moved it before he could get to it. "Karen, you're babbling. Don't be nervous. It's only me."
"I know, I know." She hated that he knew her so well. She had no reason to be nervous, she was not the one in the wrong. Only, Colin had a way of always turning things on their head and for some strange reason she usually ended up being the one apologizing after a fight. Only this wasn't a fight. This was a breakup. She started stirring the white cup with the black steamy goodness, tapping the side and put the spoon on the saucer. The café he had chosen wasn't crowded at that time of the morning. It used to be her favorite, he never took her here unless it was a special day. Now it was ruined for her.
"So, we have a lot to talk about, Kare-bear."
"I'm not actually sure that we have," she said. Trying to muster up all of her courage, she sipped at her coffee. "I just came here to tell you that you can come and get your things, and then I don't think we should see each other again." She had been practicing that line in the mirror at home, she wanted to make sure it came out clear and precise.
"Karen," he chuckled, shaking his head, "Don't be silly, we can work this out. It's just a silly mistake." Again, he tried reaching for her hand but she pulled away, hiding both of hers under the table. He huffed at the gesture. "This is just a rough patch for us. It's not worth throwing away a five-year relationship for."
”Six,” she corrected. Colin took a deep breath. Karen knew he was trying to hide that he was annoyed at the correction, he never took well to it but she was over being the doormat.
”I don't think I need to remind you that it is my name on the rental agreement. It is my apartment, Karen. I've let you stay there to show you how big-hearted I am, to show you that I'm fully aware that I am the one who made the mistake. But it's still my apartment."
"And I don't think I need reminding you, that I caught you with your penis inside someone else."
"Karen, please," he shushed her, darting his eyes around the café, making sure no one heard her. "How many times do I have to say I'm sorry? Because I am, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Please, can we work this out? I can't sleep without you I can't function without you. Please, Karen. I am a mess, I told you this."
Karen looked over his perfectly styled hair, his clean, ironed shirt, and his well-manicured nails when he tapped the table. He seemed to be able to function quite well without her. "For fuck's sake, Colin, it's been a week, literally, only a week since I saw you fucking your boss."
"It didn't mean anything," he quickly interjected.
"That's even worse!" she burst out with a high-pitched laugh. "If it had meant something, if you had fallen in love with someone else, I could have understood, I would have let you go. But if it meant nothing to you, then what's stopping you from doing it again? If it means nothing, it's obviously just something you're going to walk around doing without feeling the slightest bit of remorse." She found herself rubbing her forehead again where a throbbing headache was suddenly hammering on her skull. Colin was literally giving her a headache.
"Alright, so it meant something?" Col
in tasted the words in his mouth with confusion. Karen could tell he was just trying to appease her. "But it's over now, don't worry. I mean Anna's moved on to the new intern and-"
"Is this what this is about?" Karen fought to hold back her desperate laugh, this was almost so tragic it was funny. "Your fuck buddy found someone else and now you want me back? Colin, do you not see what's going on here? You don't want me, you never wanted me, you just want someone, anyone.” She exhaled sharply when the realization struck. "Oh Colin," she sighed, "We've just been using each other. For comfort, for companionship, for security. We probably stopped being in love years ago. We've been sticking together because we've been scared not to, because the alternative was being alone and that was too frightening to try. We can't spend our lives settling for that kind of relationship. I can't be that person anymore. We can't be those people anymore."
"Karen, I just- I miss you. We were so good together," he continued, completely oblivious to everything she had just pointed out. The words didn't register, he didn't actually want to listen to her.
Karen wanted to yell, wanted to scream at him, anything to get him to listen, but she finally understood that he wouldn't because it wasn't what he wanted to hear. She would move out, she decided quickly, sighing deeply, she could leave immediately if that's what he wanted. He could have everything in that apartment, nothing was worth much to her anyway. Only bad memories. But she never got the chance to tell him. A loud crash from across the street interrupted her.
"What the-?" she mumbled and stood up. She walked to the large windows and spotted the source of the crash straight away. The jewelers across the street had had its doors broken down, the metal security gate was crumbled up on the sidewalk as if it was paper. She didn't even entertain the notion that this could just be a normal robbery, she knew this was the work of Demons. No one else would do this in bright daylight. Without hesitation, she ran out onto the street. It was early enough for the shops not to be open, but people were still crowded around the hole in the jewelers, trying to see what was happening.
"Karen, what are you doing? Come back!" Colin yelled and ran after her. "Karen, stay away from there," he shouted.
Karen ignored him. If this was a Demon, she had to get people away from it. Running the rest of the way to the jewelers, she pushed her way through the crowd and found herself standing on rubble and broken glass. Growling loudly, she remembered that she literally had no plan, she hadn't thought this far. She tried getting the attention of the people staring, tried to get them moving, but they ignored her. "Listen to me," she shouted anyway, "Get away from here, now. Please, go!" Finally, a few people started stepping away, not because of Karen's frantic screaming but because nothing else was happening, there was nothing more to see other than a broken shop. All the jewelry was still encased and locked away and thankfully no Demons had appeared either. The store was empty. And then the rest of them disappeared. Karen breathed out in relief.
"Karen, what the fuck are you doing?" Colin demanded when he made his way to her. "Get out of here. Let's go now." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him.
Noise rumbled from the back of the shop. The relief she had felt faded and gave way to fear. She hoped she was wrong. She really, really didn't want to come face to face with a Demon, especially when Cef wasn't there. But coming face to face with a robber didn't sound too pleasing either. She had to run, Colin was right, what was she even thinking going in here?
Before she could move, a figure appeared in the door to the back. The glass crunched under her shoe as she stumbled back. It was a Demon. He was wearing a bright blue vest with nothing underneath, he had on jeans, but his feet were bare. He was bald but long pale horns snaked their way along his skull and ended in spiky points behind his head.
"Humans," he said in his broken accent and stepped towards them. Glass and plaster crumbled under his heavy steps. He was large, his stance intimidating. His dangerous grin even more so. Karen felt Colin cower behind her, so much for a manly man. She wanted to run, but couldn't move, rooted to the spot.
The Demon charged at them, Karen shut her eyes and prepared for whatever was going to happen. But nothing did. From behind her, Cef had attacked, slamming the Demon back against the wall with such force the back of his head left a hole. Karen opened her eyes in time to watch the Demon's eyes flicker with recognition at Cef, his wolfish grin gave Karen chills. In one swift move, the new Demon had his arms around Cef's waist, lifted him up and threw him back, crushing a display case behind him.
Cef pushed himself off the shattered glass. "Run!" he roared at Karen and Colin. But the Demon tore up a cabinet and threw it at them, forcing them to jump out of the way and seek shelter behind the counter. The exit was now blocked by the cabinet.
Colin started breathing heavily. He was having a panic attack. "What is going on?" he said between panting and huffing, "I don't know what's happening. Did that man just throw that as if it weighed nothing? Does he have horns?" Karen didn't have time to answer, she crouched and moved along the counter, spying around the corner at the fight.
Cef was on his feet, he jumped at the Demon, crushing him against the wall once more. The foreign sounds that escaped the Demon's lips were like nails down a chalkboard, his expression said it all. He was mocking Cef. The Demon kicked out at him, pushing his body back, in a flash he had picked up a metal tray, the most expensive rings Karen had ever seen fell to the floor as if they were nothing more than dirt, and slammed it against the side of Cef's head. Cef stumbled backward, shaking it off.
"We have to help him," Karen whispered. She searched through the rubble around her, finding several rings, necklaces, and broaches. All jewelry she would never in her life be able to afford, but no weapons or anything at all of use. "Look for something that could help," she said. "I wish I had a trashcan," Karen thought out loud, "Their many uses would surprise you."
Colin shook his head, he couldn't move. "What is going on Karen? Help- help him?" he stuttered. A loud crash was heard behind them, the Demon had once more thrown Cef into a glass display box. Pieces of it rained down on them. Karen gasped, some of the glass had blood on it. Cef.
"We need to help him," she repeated, hammering her fist into the counter, refusing to sit there feeling helpless and small. She had to help him. It was Cef.
"Karen, are you in a gang?" Colin squeaked. "I knew there was something off about that diner, I just knew it. You're in a gang, you're in that gang that's been terrorizing the city!"
"Have you lost your fucking mind?" Karen growled at him. "If you're not going to help then just sit there and shut up!" She began to rummage around the mess on the floor again. She finally found a metal tray and picked it up with a silent cry of triumph.
"Well, well, well, the almighty Ceftion, protecting the humans, how amusing," the Demon said in the harsh Demon tongue, laughing spitefully. Tracing a gash in his arm that Cef had cut with a piece of broken glass. He huffed out at the blood on his fingers that ran deep red. He licked it. "The taste of a fight, is it not delicious?" he drawled at Cef. Cef had no time for games. He didn't know this Demon, but this Demon obviously knew him. Perhaps he had even been in the army of Hell at the time Cef was the Warchief. He didn't know the individuals he had ruled over, there were so many of them. “Mighty Warchief," the Demon mocked him, "Turned protector of the weak? Can it be true?"
"Just tell me where the rift is," Cef demanded. He felt fresh blood run down his arm, a large chunk of glass had lodged itself in there. He pulled it out, letting the blood run free. "We do not need to fight."
"Backing down?" the Demon exclaimed with surprise, "No, Ceftion, I am bringing you in, whether you like it or not. Warchief Tamas will be glad." The Demon charged again, slamming his shoulder into Cef's chest. Cef had tried blocking but his feet were unsteady on the jewelry and glass. He fell back. The Demon grasped the moment, and Cef's coat in his fists, and threw him against the wall. Cef landed on the floor, on a bed of broken plaster and bricks and sh
attered glass. His beanie had fallen to the floor, the Demon picked it up and inspected it curiously. "Why hide what you are? You look like a human, Ceftion, do not pretend you are one. Be proud of your horns." With that he tore the beanie apart, the black woolen pieces falling to the ground.
Cef growled, but then froze. His breath caught in his throat as his heart skipped a beat. Karen. He watched as Karen climbed onto the counter, the Demon was far too busy mocking Cef to even notice her. He clearly hadn't been trained when Cef was Warchief. Cef would never have allowed his Demons to be taken by surprise by a mere human in this manner. Tamas wasn't doing his job properly. He wanted to call out to Karen, tell her to stop, to not get involved. She had no chance against a Demon. But it was too late, she had jumped at him, the metal tray raised in the air. It hit him at the back of his head and she landed on the floor with a heavy thump.
The Demon turned slowly, surprise evident on his face, surprise at the puny human at his feet clutching the metal tray in her hands. He uttered a curse Karen did not understand, the sound of someone hammering on a drainpipe. But his intention was written in his eyes. In retrospect, going up against a Demon was a pretty bad idea.
Cef was on his feet, in the process he picked up a thick table leg. He charged at the Demon, slammed the wooden leg over his naked head. The wooden piece broke in half but the Demon only stumbled back, snorting angrily before he could regain his posture. Cef didn't give him time for that, and swiftly kicked the back of his legs, forcing him on his knees. Once there, he quickly slammed his elbow into his back, pushing the air out of his lungs. "No, you will not bring me in," Cef whispered to him. The Demon on the floor gasped for air, looked up at him wide-eyed. Cef grasped his head between his hands, with one forceful jerk he had twisted his head all the way around. The click of the neck breaking left a thundering silence. That was the second time she had watched Cef break someone's neck. The Demon's dead body fell to the floor.
