The music pounded around her. she could feel it vibrate throughout her. The first time she had gone here, the music frightened her but now the passion and the power of the music thrilled her. the way the made her feel outweighed the risks of coming here. she knew the trouble she would be in if she was caught, and everytime she left, she vowed never to return and that she would go back to being a "good girl." However, by the time the weekend rolled around, she would come back. the music, and the freedom the music offered her, was too much for her to deny. it was too much for her to ignore. she knew she was testing her luck by returning here yet it didnt' really matter.
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the wall behind. She took a sip of the beer she was drinking. it was bitter and she shuddered as it went down, but it was forbidden and it gave her the taste of freedom that she felt only here. From where she was in the bar, she couldn't see the band, but it didn't matter. she wasn't here to put faces to the voices she heard. she was here to listen to the music and open her soul. sometimes she dreamed of going up there and singing. to grab a guitar, put her guitar string blistered fingers on the strings, rip out a song and just let go. to be free. that would never happen. she could never just let go like that. she was too wound up. she was too uptight. she couldn't never just release like that. She could feel the walls vibrate due to the loud music. how she envied the musicans up there. to let loose. the power they held by giving it all up. she took another drink of her beer. what a disgusting drink it was.
"a-hem," a voice woke her from her thoughts. Her eyes flew open. a man, with long brown hair and a short beard was staring at her. a small smile played on his lips, as if he was amused by her. She glared at him. she wanted to be left alone. whenever she came her she avoided everyone. she didnt' come for the interaction. she had "friends" at work, at home, on the computer. she didn't come here for friends. she came here to be free and right now this man was interferring with her thoughts.
"what?" she snapped. her voice was lost in the music, but her body lanuage displayed enough of the meaning that he should have understood what she meant. he stepped closer, entering her personal space. it was all she could from tossing the drink in his face.
"i'm riley," he spoke into her ear. he spoke loud enough that she could hear him, "i just..." the cockiness he carried with him waivered for a second, then he smiled again, "you seemed so beautiful standing there, i wanted to introduce myself." The band paused, starting into another song. a softer, slower song.
"Kaley," she replied. she turned back to the stage. suddenly the band cranked it up. the music returned to its pounding dicabels. she knew her ears would be ringing once she left but she didn't care. right now the only thing that was bothering her was riley. He remained silent now. She sipped her beer again, grateful he got the message. she closed her eyes and began to swing to the music. she saw signs once in a while, advertising an open mic night, and while she sat at work she wondered what it would be like to be the one on stage. she could almost feel the hot lights on her, causing her to glisten (never sweat, women don't sweat), to step up to the microphone, the black backdrop behind her, staring into the crowd, where people were waiting for her to sing. then her mind would begin to twist the vision. the crowd would be so silent. they were waiting for her sing so they could judge her. in her mind's eyes she could see her friends standing in the back of club, pointing and laughing, waiting for her to screw up. when she would get off the stage, they would gather around her, telling her that she did a good job just getting on the stage, but she should have known. she was a backstage kind of girl. she wasn't a frontrunner. there were others in her group to do that. not her. never her.
"Heal me
I begged and love said no
Leave me
for dead and let me go
Kill me
I cried and love said no
Kill me
I cried and love said no," riley had moved up close again and sang soft lyrics into her ear. he kissed her cheek and disappeared into the crowd. she blushed and swallowed the rest of her beer. she ran from the bar, the music no long soothing her but pounding around her, biting at her, and remaining her of her failures. she ran into the night, trying to get all the distance she possibly could from riley.
~/~/~
riley pulled his black coat closer around himself and lit a citgerette. a nasty habit he knew, and one that he had almost kicked but he hadn't just yet. he knew he screwed it up. he could still hear his friends laugh at him, as he returned to the table. he had ordered another pitch of beer and had it all to himself. his friends still mocked him. okay, so he messed up. he scared her. he couldn't help it. those words just floating in his head he saw her. he wanted to say more to her. like how he saw right through her. how scared she was, and how she locked up in this act she was pulling. that he had noticed her the first night. his heavy boots thudded as he walked down the alley. now she probably wouldn't return. he swore. damn it. damn it. damn it.
suddenly he stopped, and turned around. nathaniel stood a little way down the alley. he looked green. nate had a habit of drinking way too much. all the guys tried to get nate to learn his limit, but he didn't want to. riley worried about him, but would never admit it. he knew nate tried to drink away alot of his problems. he would always pretend things were fine, but he could see through him. the weight of the world on his shoulders. trying to pass his courses in the university, trying to hold down a job to pay for the education and trying to keep his parents happy, who were always on his case for one thing or another. nate never really said what it was about, but when he got really drunk, he would curse them. now nate was hunched over, his body rejecting the alchol he had. riley sighed. figured the other guys would leave him to fend for himself. didnt' he tell them to watch nate, to make sure he got home okay? he supposed he should take some responsibility as well. he went over to nate and tried to help. nate pushed him away, only to fall down.
"fuck you, riley, fuck you all," he mumbled. his eyes didn't look right, even for his drunkeness, "i'm so sick... so sick of this all," nate pushed himself to his feet and went to push riley again. he side stepped him.
"let's go. i wanna... i wanna show you what it's like. what it feels like to be around a smartass like you all the fucking time." riley sighed and pulled out his phone. he punched in the number for like cheapest cab he could think of and gave the location. he pulled out a ten and shoved it into nate's hand, "take the bloody cab, man," then turned and left his friend.
riley stepped out on the other side of the alley. he debated on his next steps. he had work tomorrow. a job he hated, but a job he needed to keep. he had been fired from his last job. not his fault, not really anyway. but he suppose there were more pressing matters at hand to attent to. he glanced at his watch, which now read 2:30. he didn't set until 10. he had time. he entered the graveyard and began to patrol. his secret life was beginning to emerge. he supposed everyone had a secret life. his was just a little more abnormal. he was a demon hunter. he shuddered. he hated those words. it made him sound crazy. like he watched too much x-files or buffy or something. that wasn't the case at all. one of his best friends had been attacked by some sort of creature when he was younger and since then he wanted to find out what it was. needless to say, his friend didn't survive. as soon as he was old enough, he moved to the city on his own to continue his work. he supposed he would stop as soon as he found out what killed his best friend, but now, as the years passed, he doubted that. he smiled at the thought of kaley. she seemed normal enough. like a ray of light in his life. he wondered if he would ever see her again. then he heard a branch break behind him. he turned around. there stood a very pale man, with his arms crossed. riley had seen this man several times in his life, and each time he had come out worse for wear. this was a vampire prince. there wasn't any real royalty in the supernatural world but this one was very strong, and thus considered a prince to his kind. it was surprising that mikoto (meaning prince in japanese, which riley assumed that he had changed his name at some point. really original.) hunted him down tonight. he was so not in the mood for an ass kicking.
"hey man," riley greeted, as he slid his hand into his coat to pull out a knife. it wasn't just any knife, but a blessed night from a high priest. needless to say, the priest wasn't too happy on blessing the knife, but riley was very persasive when he wanted something. this knife, though made out of silver, would burn a vampire's heart right through, thus eliminating the demon. when riley saw the power of the priest coming through, it almost made him want to believe in God. that was another story.
"riley," mikoto said, "ahh, riley my dear friend."
"Yuppers, that's me," riley said. he held the knife tightly in his hand.
"good. my sense of smell has been off lately," the vampire prince flew towards riley at incredible speed. Riley jumped to the side and thursted his hand out. he could feel the blade made contact with mikoto's flesh and a sessal filled the air as the blade burnt the flesh. mikoto whirrled around, his cheek burnt and bleeding. the vampire prince growled and lunged for riley again. riley was curious to way mikoto hunted him out for a battle, as it wasn't typically his style to, but now wasn't the time to allow his mind to wonder. riley didn't move fast enough and mikoto slammed his fist into his face. stars exploded in front of his eyes. that was going to smart in the morning. riley sliced again and managed to hit mikoto. the prince let out a howl. that was also unusual for mikoto. everything seemed off tonight. riely threw himself at mikoto, using his weight to knock the vampire demon to the ground. the vampire caught him and threw him off, tossing him into a headstone. he could feel the stone crack underneath him. pain snaked through his back. riley jumped to his feet. he made a mental note to pick up some advil on the way home, he would need them the next day. the vampire appeared next to him and swiped at him. riley, pulling out an ordinary knife, sliced mikoto, and planted the knife into his shoulder. mikoto twisted away. riley kicked up, knocking mikoto to the ground. mikoto reached out and pulled riley down to the ground with him. riley landed on his knees. he punched the demon. mikoto smiled.
"you don't deserve her, you know," he hissed. that statement threw riley for a loop.
"what are you talking about?" he demanded. mikoto jumped to his feet and kicked riley. riley moved out of way.
"that girl at the bar," mikoto said and then he lunged at riley, fullon. riley placed the knife in front of him, and allowed mikoto hit him. they both tumbled to the ground. riley's leg slammed against a grave maker but the trick had it's desired effect. the blessed blade had punctured the heart and mikoto was dust. riley laid on the ground, as the dust settled on him. he was breathing heavily. he didn't like the idea of mikoto knowing about the girl. it meant he was being watched and he didn't even know. he sighed and forced himself to his feet. he looked at his watch, which now read 3:30. time to return home.
~/~/~
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the wall behind. She took a sip of the beer she was drinking. it was bitter and she shuddered as it went down, but it was forbidden and it gave her the taste of freedom that she felt only here. From where she was in the bar, she couldn't see the band, but it didn't matter. she wasn't here to put faces to the voices she heard. she was here to listen to the music and open her soul. sometimes she dreamed of going up there and singing. to grab a guitar, put her guitar string blistered fingers on the strings, rip out a song and just let go. to be free. that would never happen. she could never just let go like that. she was too wound up. she was too uptight. she couldn't never just release like that. She could feel the walls vibrate due to the loud music. how she envied the musicans up there. to let loose. the power they held by giving it all up. she took another drink of her beer. what a disgusting drink it was.
"a-hem," a voice woke her from her thoughts. Her eyes flew open. a man, with long brown hair and a short beard was staring at her. a small smile played on his lips, as if he was amused by her. She glared at him. she wanted to be left alone. whenever she came her she avoided everyone. she didnt' come for the interaction. she had "friends" at work, at home, on the computer. she didn't come here for friends. she came here to be free and right now this man was interferring with her thoughts.
"what?" she snapped. her voice was lost in the music, but her body lanuage displayed enough of the meaning that he should have understood what she meant. he stepped closer, entering her personal space. it was all she could from tossing the drink in his face.
"i'm riley," he spoke into her ear. he spoke loud enough that she could hear him, "i just..." the cockiness he carried with him waivered for a second, then he smiled again, "you seemed so beautiful standing there, i wanted to introduce myself." The band paused, starting into another song. a softer, slower song.
"Kaley," she replied. she turned back to the stage. suddenly the band cranked it up. the music returned to its pounding dicabels. she knew her ears would be ringing once she left but she didn't care. right now the only thing that was bothering her was riley. He remained silent now. She sipped her beer again, grateful he got the message. she closed her eyes and began to swing to the music. she saw signs once in a while, advertising an open mic night, and while she sat at work she wondered what it would be like to be the one on stage. she could almost feel the hot lights on her, causing her to glisten (never sweat, women don't sweat), to step up to the microphone, the black backdrop behind her, staring into the crowd, where people were waiting for her to sing. then her mind would begin to twist the vision. the crowd would be so silent. they were waiting for her sing so they could judge her. in her mind's eyes she could see her friends standing in the back of club, pointing and laughing, waiting for her to screw up. when she would get off the stage, they would gather around her, telling her that she did a good job just getting on the stage, but she should have known. she was a backstage kind of girl. she wasn't a frontrunner. there were others in her group to do that. not her. never her.
"Heal me
I begged and love said no
Leave me
for dead and let me go
Kill me
I cried and love said no
Kill me
I cried and love said no," riley had moved up close again and sang soft lyrics into her ear. he kissed her cheek and disappeared into the crowd. she blushed and swallowed the rest of her beer. she ran from the bar, the music no long soothing her but pounding around her, biting at her, and remaining her of her failures. she ran into the night, trying to get all the distance she possibly could from riley.
~/~/~
riley pulled his black coat closer around himself and lit a citgerette. a nasty habit he knew, and one that he had almost kicked but he hadn't just yet. he knew he screwed it up. he could still hear his friends laugh at him, as he returned to the table. he had ordered another pitch of beer and had it all to himself. his friends still mocked him. okay, so he messed up. he scared her. he couldn't help it. those words just floating in his head he saw her. he wanted to say more to her. like how he saw right through her. how scared she was, and how she locked up in this act she was pulling. that he had noticed her the first night. his heavy boots thudded as he walked down the alley. now she probably wouldn't return. he swore. damn it. damn it. damn it.
suddenly he stopped, and turned around. nathaniel stood a little way down the alley. he looked green. nate had a habit of drinking way too much. all the guys tried to get nate to learn his limit, but he didn't want to. riley worried about him, but would never admit it. he knew nate tried to drink away alot of his problems. he would always pretend things were fine, but he could see through him. the weight of the world on his shoulders. trying to pass his courses in the university, trying to hold down a job to pay for the education and trying to keep his parents happy, who were always on his case for one thing or another. nate never really said what it was about, but when he got really drunk, he would curse them. now nate was hunched over, his body rejecting the alchol he had. riley sighed. figured the other guys would leave him to fend for himself. didnt' he tell them to watch nate, to make sure he got home okay? he supposed he should take some responsibility as well. he went over to nate and tried to help. nate pushed him away, only to fall down.
"fuck you, riley, fuck you all," he mumbled. his eyes didn't look right, even for his drunkeness, "i'm so sick... so sick of this all," nate pushed himself to his feet and went to push riley again. he side stepped him.
"let's go. i wanna... i wanna show you what it's like. what it feels like to be around a smartass like you all the fucking time." riley sighed and pulled out his phone. he punched in the number for like cheapest cab he could think of and gave the location. he pulled out a ten and shoved it into nate's hand, "take the bloody cab, man," then turned and left his friend.
riley stepped out on the other side of the alley. he debated on his next steps. he had work tomorrow. a job he hated, but a job he needed to keep. he had been fired from his last job. not his fault, not really anyway. but he suppose there were more pressing matters at hand to attent to. he glanced at his watch, which now read 2:30. he didn't set until 10. he had time. he entered the graveyard and began to patrol. his secret life was beginning to emerge. he supposed everyone had a secret life. his was just a little more abnormal. he was a demon hunter. he shuddered. he hated those words. it made him sound crazy. like he watched too much x-files or buffy or something. that wasn't the case at all. one of his best friends had been attacked by some sort of creature when he was younger and since then he wanted to find out what it was. needless to say, his friend didn't survive. as soon as he was old enough, he moved to the city on his own to continue his work. he supposed he would stop as soon as he found out what killed his best friend, but now, as the years passed, he doubted that. he smiled at the thought of kaley. she seemed normal enough. like a ray of light in his life. he wondered if he would ever see her again. then he heard a branch break behind him. he turned around. there stood a very pale man, with his arms crossed. riley had seen this man several times in his life, and each time he had come out worse for wear. this was a vampire prince. there wasn't any real royalty in the supernatural world but this one was very strong, and thus considered a prince to his kind. it was surprising that mikoto (meaning prince in japanese, which riley assumed that he had changed his name at some point. really original.) hunted him down tonight. he was so not in the mood for an ass kicking.
"hey man," riley greeted, as he slid his hand into his coat to pull out a knife. it wasn't just any knife, but a blessed night from a high priest. needless to say, the priest wasn't too happy on blessing the knife, but riley was very persasive when he wanted something. this knife, though made out of silver, would burn a vampire's heart right through, thus eliminating the demon. when riley saw the power of the priest coming through, it almost made him want to believe in God. that was another story.
"riley," mikoto said, "ahh, riley my dear friend."
"Yuppers, that's me," riley said. he held the knife tightly in his hand.
"good. my sense of smell has been off lately," the vampire prince flew towards riley at incredible speed. Riley jumped to the side and thursted his hand out. he could feel the blade made contact with mikoto's flesh and a sessal filled the air as the blade burnt the flesh. mikoto whirrled around, his cheek burnt and bleeding. the vampire prince growled and lunged for riley again. riley was curious to way mikoto hunted him out for a battle, as it wasn't typically his style to, but now wasn't the time to allow his mind to wonder. riley didn't move fast enough and mikoto slammed his fist into his face. stars exploded in front of his eyes. that was going to smart in the morning. riley sliced again and managed to hit mikoto. the prince let out a howl. that was also unusual for mikoto. everything seemed off tonight. riely threw himself at mikoto, using his weight to knock the vampire demon to the ground. the vampire caught him and threw him off, tossing him into a headstone. he could feel the stone crack underneath him. pain snaked through his back. riley jumped to his feet. he made a mental note to pick up some advil on the way home, he would need them the next day. the vampire appeared next to him and swiped at him. riley, pulling out an ordinary knife, sliced mikoto, and planted the knife into his shoulder. mikoto twisted away. riley kicked up, knocking mikoto to the ground. mikoto reached out and pulled riley down to the ground with him. riley landed on his knees. he punched the demon. mikoto smiled.
"you don't deserve her, you know," he hissed. that statement threw riley for a loop.
"what are you talking about?" he demanded. mikoto jumped to his feet and kicked riley. riley moved out of way.
"that girl at the bar," mikoto said and then he lunged at riley, fullon. riley placed the knife in front of him, and allowed mikoto hit him. they both tumbled to the ground. riley's leg slammed against a grave maker but the trick had it's desired effect. the blessed blade had punctured the heart and mikoto was dust. riley laid on the ground, as the dust settled on him. he was breathing heavily. he didn't like the idea of mikoto knowing about the girl. it meant he was being watched and he didn't even know. he sighed and forced himself to his feet. he looked at his watch, which now read 3:30. time to return home.
~/~/~
Kaley entered the restuarant where she worked. there was still a half hour before it opened. She could hear one of her best friends, Lindsay, singing from the back of the restuarant.
"A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl!" Lindsay was singing loudly and off key. Kaley shivered and entered the back employee room, where Lindsay was standing on top of a chair, doing some sort of belly dance. Rachel, her other best friend and who also worked in the resturant but back in the kitchen, was laughing. a couple of guys were also laughing. kaley rolled her eyes. That was lindsay for you, always doing whatever to get attention, no matter what. Lindsay stepped down from the chair and winked at Craig. Kaley knew that Lindsay had a thing for Craig. Never mind the fact that Lindsay had a thing for anyone, but she knew that Craig had a steady girlfriend. that didnt' stop lindsay. if lindsay wanted, lindsay got, no matter what the cost in the end and no matter who got hurt in the process.
"I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn't think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That's right, put your pom-poms downs, getting everybody fired up
A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl" Lindsay was now practically grinding against Craig, who, granted, didn't look too upset about it. Kaley rolled her eyes and checked the schedule. great. she was on greeter duty. that meant no tips and while walking by the family table, the little ones would throw their ketchup coated fries at her. Of course Lindsay was working the bar, which was located at the side of the resturant. the resturant was geared mostly to the family type customers, but they had a bar to try and pull in the university students. most nites it worked, especially with lindsay working the back. lindsay, however, had requested tonite off, for some unknown reason and would work during the day. that might she would get big tips from the horny old men who came in.
"Hey," Kaley greeted Rachel. Rachel yawned. In addition to working here, she also went to school. out of the three of them, rachel was the only one going to school. Lindsay didn't care about school. she often bragged she would marry rich and then education wouldn't mean anything. why waste the money on something that would be useless? Kaley thought that was stupid. She longed to get an education, the only problem was she didn't have the money for it. thus the job. well, actually the job also paid for her apartment and bills but she was also saving for school. one day she would go. she didn't really plan to be suck in this resturant for the rest of her life. the manager, gary, entered the back room. he was a big guy, who could stand to lose pounds, but he was nice enough. he always wore a suit, tie and shiny shoes. Kaley noticed the shoes right away. she sometimes wondered if he used them for a mirror. another noticeable thing about him is that he always wore shades, but not in fornt of his eyes as one would imagine, but on top of his head, as if he just came in from outside. yet even when he was outside, his sunglasses were on top of his head, which was about as shiny as his shoes.
"Enough chatting back here," he grunted, "let's get to places." he clapped his hands and walked out. Kaley clipped her name tag ot her blouse and left the back room. Rachel followed and grabbed her arm.
"Hey, Kal, we need to talk. can we meet up after work?" Rachel asked. Kaley bit her bottom lip. she worked until five, which she was hoping to go home, shower and change and return back to the bar. she hadn't hung out with the girls in a couple of months, so they didn't notice that she was disappearing on friday and saturday nites. they were usually too busy with their own lives. Kaley didn't want to sound bitter but it felt she was just the last resort for those two. she nodded. however if her friends needed her, the bar could wait. besides, she was sort of nervous about going again. what if riley was there? when she got home, she spent half the night looking up to see if there was any significance to the words he had sung to her. and yet, as wigged as she was about him, she was curious about him too. Rachel gave her a weak sort of smile and disappeared into the kitchen. Kaley made sure her name tag was on straight and went out to the front. already people were lining up to come inside. she put on her biggest smile and waited for gary to unlock the doors.
~/~/~
The shift passed fairly uneventually. Kaley thought that the day was sort of slow, excluding the typical morning rush. Rachel was waiting for her in the front lobbey when Kaley came out of the employee room. both of them looked tired, but rachel had a weird deteremined look in her eyes.
"across the street?" rachel asked, referring to the new coffee house that just opened. it was fairly pricey, but kaley knew that rachel and lindsay enjoyed going there. often rachel would tell kaley about after work adventures that her and lindsay had over there. kaley had only been able to go there a couple of times. rachel would often just laugh nervously and said they went there on a whim and didn't mean to exclude kaley. kaley would laugh and tell her it was alright. she wouldn't tell rachel or lindsay how much it actually hurt that she wasn't included.
kaley nodded. they didn't say anything as they crossed the street and entered the store. it was fairly busy for the time of day. it was filled with preppy university students. most sat in quiet groups, chatting or studying, but there were a few who sat on their own, reading. rachel ordered a grande latte, kaley settled on a small iced tea. she figured she would save her spending money on drinks tonight. she had debated about it all through her shift. she wanted to return.
"well," rachel said as they sat down at a table in the back. any talking around them was hushed. kaley had a hard time imagining this place the world of fun that rachel described. perhaps it lightened up as the night came.
"we need to talk. lindsay would to have liked to be here, but you know lindsay..." rachel's voice trailed off unsure. Kaley smiled. she ignored how fake she felt at that moment.
"what's wrong, rachel?" she asked. Rachel gripped her cup of coffee tightly.
"Linds and i are worried about you. we swung by your apartment last nite and you weren't home. the past couple of weekends we have called you and visited, and you weren't there. we don't expect to tell us everything, of course," she laughed nervously, "but we were just curious what's going on with you. it's not like you to disappear into the night." Kaley was taken back by this confrontation. no, it wasn't like her to disappear into the night, but it also wasn't like her to go to bars and listen to music, real music instead of that crappy pop stuff that lindsay had been singing. it wasn't like her to sneak into music stores and look at the alternative section, and wonder what it would be like to listen to one of those cds at home. it was like her, however, to turn around and leave the store, empty handed, because she was afraid of the ridicule she would suffer when lindsay and rachel found out. it was like her to hide this secret life from her best friends. it was like her to hide a lot of things from her best friends. things that she doubted they understood. things they wouldn't accept because it wasn't cool or acceptable. only losers and posers listened to that kind of music. it was just like kaley to pretend to be someone she didn't really believe she was, just for acceptance. for the first time in a long while, she felt an overwhelming disgust at herself. normally she would ignore those feelings, convincing herself of stupid reasons that she was being true to herself. but now, as she found herself making up excuses for where she had been last night, she realised she wasn't being true to herself. that bothered her and frightened her. she knew, deep down, she would never truly be happy if she kept lying to herself but she knew that she might lose her only friends. riley's face floated across her mind's eye and she wondered if he would understand what she was feeling. she shook her head. he was just a freak.
"kaley?" rachel asked, her voice tenitive. Kaley broke out of her thoughts. she bit on her lip. this was the moment of truth.
"i'm just going out on my own," she said, her voice trailing off. rachel looked concerned.
"like what? you know linds and i are always here to hang out," rachel said.
"yeah, i know but sometimes you guys are busy. or you already have plans with someone else or whatever," kaley found herself putting on that same fake smile she uses for customers, "it's no big deal. it's not like i'm hanging out at biker bars or anything!" Rachel laughed, her face relaxing.
"i knew that," rachel stood up and walked around the table to give her friend a hug, "oh, kaley, you'll never change. you just frightened us. especially when you don't tell us what you did during the weekend." kaley returned the hug. her heart broke. she felt trapped. she wanted to tell rachel about everything but couldn't. suddenly a group of guys walked into the coffee house. they were anything but prep and it was a refreshing sight to see in the American Eagle-ize store. Rachel caught kaley looking at them and snorted.
"gah, what losers," rachel said, as she returned to her seat and drained the rest of her drink. kaley fround herself nodding in agreement. self hatred plunged her heart again. just for a moment, she found herself wishing, she was sitting with them, instead of being trapped in her pretty little popular world.
~/~/~
Riley entered the church, his heart pounding. The air was musty, a sign that evening mass had just been let out. the priest at this particular church was fond of incense, and now the air was thick of it. Riley could see the priest, Father Ian at the front of church. he was knelt infront of the alter. he was an old priest, nearly reaching the age of retirement. riley knew from his few talks with the priest that the man truly loved his job and had a heart for God. Riley couldn't really understand his passion, considering he didn't even believe in God, but he couldn't fault the man. the love and passion of his job showed through in his compassion for his perish. however that gentle spirit didn't often show through for riley. Father Ian had no patience for the young man.
"Forgive me, Father for I have sinned," Riley said, breaking the silence of the church. Father Ian turned around, a look of annoyance passing through his eyes.
"i thought i could smell your unholy strench," the priest said, turning around. Riley smiled.
"ah, Father, i have missed your wit," he said. he wondered why he came. he didn't have a reason, but he felt drawn here.
"tell me, riley, have you heard of pascal's wager?" he asked. he grabbed his cane and started down the asle towards riley.
"no," riley rolled his eyes. he sat down on a pew and laid back. the pew was hard and rather uncomfortable, but he figured for the speech he was going to get, he better be lying down. he glanced at his watch. he would have to leave soon to meet up with the guys.
"pascal didn't believe in God," Father Ian said, "to make a long story short, he realised that if he didn't believe in God and he was right, it wouldn't matter, but if he was wrong, it would have eternal consquences. he had a 50/50 chance, and to conclude he realised he would rather be wrong in believing in God and finding out there is none, than being wrong in not believing, and being damned to hell. just a thought for you, my boy."
"Well, that was interesting, but i didn't come to church tonite for a sermon," he said.
"A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl!" Lindsay was singing loudly and off key. Kaley shivered and entered the back employee room, where Lindsay was standing on top of a chair, doing some sort of belly dance. Rachel, her other best friend and who also worked in the resturant but back in the kitchen, was laughing. a couple of guys were also laughing. kaley rolled her eyes. That was lindsay for you, always doing whatever to get attention, no matter what. Lindsay stepped down from the chair and winked at Craig. Kaley knew that Lindsay had a thing for Craig. Never mind the fact that Lindsay had a thing for anyone, but she knew that Craig had a steady girlfriend. that didnt' stop lindsay. if lindsay wanted, lindsay got, no matter what the cost in the end and no matter who got hurt in the process.
"I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn't think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That's right, put your pom-poms downs, getting everybody fired up
A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just gonna to happen like that
Because I ain't no hollaback girl
I ain't no hollaback girl" Lindsay was now practically grinding against Craig, who, granted, didn't look too upset about it. Kaley rolled her eyes and checked the schedule. great. she was on greeter duty. that meant no tips and while walking by the family table, the little ones would throw their ketchup coated fries at her. Of course Lindsay was working the bar, which was located at the side of the resturant. the resturant was geared mostly to the family type customers, but they had a bar to try and pull in the university students. most nites it worked, especially with lindsay working the back. lindsay, however, had requested tonite off, for some unknown reason and would work during the day. that might she would get big tips from the horny old men who came in.
"Hey," Kaley greeted Rachel. Rachel yawned. In addition to working here, she also went to school. out of the three of them, rachel was the only one going to school. Lindsay didn't care about school. she often bragged she would marry rich and then education wouldn't mean anything. why waste the money on something that would be useless? Kaley thought that was stupid. She longed to get an education, the only problem was she didn't have the money for it. thus the job. well, actually the job also paid for her apartment and bills but she was also saving for school. one day she would go. she didn't really plan to be suck in this resturant for the rest of her life. the manager, gary, entered the back room. he was a big guy, who could stand to lose pounds, but he was nice enough. he always wore a suit, tie and shiny shoes. Kaley noticed the shoes right away. she sometimes wondered if he used them for a mirror. another noticeable thing about him is that he always wore shades, but not in fornt of his eyes as one would imagine, but on top of his head, as if he just came in from outside. yet even when he was outside, his sunglasses were on top of his head, which was about as shiny as his shoes.
"Enough chatting back here," he grunted, "let's get to places." he clapped his hands and walked out. Kaley clipped her name tag ot her blouse and left the back room. Rachel followed and grabbed her arm.
"Hey, Kal, we need to talk. can we meet up after work?" Rachel asked. Kaley bit her bottom lip. she worked until five, which she was hoping to go home, shower and change and return back to the bar. she hadn't hung out with the girls in a couple of months, so they didn't notice that she was disappearing on friday and saturday nites. they were usually too busy with their own lives. Kaley didn't want to sound bitter but it felt she was just the last resort for those two. she nodded. however if her friends needed her, the bar could wait. besides, she was sort of nervous about going again. what if riley was there? when she got home, she spent half the night looking up to see if there was any significance to the words he had sung to her. and yet, as wigged as she was about him, she was curious about him too. Rachel gave her a weak sort of smile and disappeared into the kitchen. Kaley made sure her name tag was on straight and went out to the front. already people were lining up to come inside. she put on her biggest smile and waited for gary to unlock the doors.
~/~/~
The shift passed fairly uneventually. Kaley thought that the day was sort of slow, excluding the typical morning rush. Rachel was waiting for her in the front lobbey when Kaley came out of the employee room. both of them looked tired, but rachel had a weird deteremined look in her eyes.
"across the street?" rachel asked, referring to the new coffee house that just opened. it was fairly pricey, but kaley knew that rachel and lindsay enjoyed going there. often rachel would tell kaley about after work adventures that her and lindsay had over there. kaley had only been able to go there a couple of times. rachel would often just laugh nervously and said they went there on a whim and didn't mean to exclude kaley. kaley would laugh and tell her it was alright. she wouldn't tell rachel or lindsay how much it actually hurt that she wasn't included.
kaley nodded. they didn't say anything as they crossed the street and entered the store. it was fairly busy for the time of day. it was filled with preppy university students. most sat in quiet groups, chatting or studying, but there were a few who sat on their own, reading. rachel ordered a grande latte, kaley settled on a small iced tea. she figured she would save her spending money on drinks tonight. she had debated about it all through her shift. she wanted to return.
"well," rachel said as they sat down at a table in the back. any talking around them was hushed. kaley had a hard time imagining this place the world of fun that rachel described. perhaps it lightened up as the night came.
"we need to talk. lindsay would to have liked to be here, but you know lindsay..." rachel's voice trailed off unsure. Kaley smiled. she ignored how fake she felt at that moment.
"what's wrong, rachel?" she asked. Rachel gripped her cup of coffee tightly.
"Linds and i are worried about you. we swung by your apartment last nite and you weren't home. the past couple of weekends we have called you and visited, and you weren't there. we don't expect to tell us everything, of course," she laughed nervously, "but we were just curious what's going on with you. it's not like you to disappear into the night." Kaley was taken back by this confrontation. no, it wasn't like her to disappear into the night, but it also wasn't like her to go to bars and listen to music, real music instead of that crappy pop stuff that lindsay had been singing. it wasn't like her to sneak into music stores and look at the alternative section, and wonder what it would be like to listen to one of those cds at home. it was like her, however, to turn around and leave the store, empty handed, because she was afraid of the ridicule she would suffer when lindsay and rachel found out. it was like her to hide this secret life from her best friends. it was like her to hide a lot of things from her best friends. things that she doubted they understood. things they wouldn't accept because it wasn't cool or acceptable. only losers and posers listened to that kind of music. it was just like kaley to pretend to be someone she didn't really believe she was, just for acceptance. for the first time in a long while, she felt an overwhelming disgust at herself. normally she would ignore those feelings, convincing herself of stupid reasons that she was being true to herself. but now, as she found herself making up excuses for where she had been last night, she realised she wasn't being true to herself. that bothered her and frightened her. she knew, deep down, she would never truly be happy if she kept lying to herself but she knew that she might lose her only friends. riley's face floated across her mind's eye and she wondered if he would understand what she was feeling. she shook her head. he was just a freak.
"kaley?" rachel asked, her voice tenitive. Kaley broke out of her thoughts. she bit on her lip. this was the moment of truth.
"i'm just going out on my own," she said, her voice trailing off. rachel looked concerned.
"like what? you know linds and i are always here to hang out," rachel said.
"yeah, i know but sometimes you guys are busy. or you already have plans with someone else or whatever," kaley found herself putting on that same fake smile she uses for customers, "it's no big deal. it's not like i'm hanging out at biker bars or anything!" Rachel laughed, her face relaxing.
"i knew that," rachel stood up and walked around the table to give her friend a hug, "oh, kaley, you'll never change. you just frightened us. especially when you don't tell us what you did during the weekend." kaley returned the hug. her heart broke. she felt trapped. she wanted to tell rachel about everything but couldn't. suddenly a group of guys walked into the coffee house. they were anything but prep and it was a refreshing sight to see in the American Eagle-ize store. Rachel caught kaley looking at them and snorted.
"gah, what losers," rachel said, as she returned to her seat and drained the rest of her drink. kaley fround herself nodding in agreement. self hatred plunged her heart again. just for a moment, she found herself wishing, she was sitting with them, instead of being trapped in her pretty little popular world.
~/~/~
Riley entered the church, his heart pounding. The air was musty, a sign that evening mass had just been let out. the priest at this particular church was fond of incense, and now the air was thick of it. Riley could see the priest, Father Ian at the front of church. he was knelt infront of the alter. he was an old priest, nearly reaching the age of retirement. riley knew from his few talks with the priest that the man truly loved his job and had a heart for God. Riley couldn't really understand his passion, considering he didn't even believe in God, but he couldn't fault the man. the love and passion of his job showed through in his compassion for his perish. however that gentle spirit didn't often show through for riley. Father Ian had no patience for the young man.
"Forgive me, Father for I have sinned," Riley said, breaking the silence of the church. Father Ian turned around, a look of annoyance passing through his eyes.
"i thought i could smell your unholy strench," the priest said, turning around. Riley smiled.
"ah, Father, i have missed your wit," he said. he wondered why he came. he didn't have a reason, but he felt drawn here.
"tell me, riley, have you heard of pascal's wager?" he asked. he grabbed his cane and started down the asle towards riley.
"no," riley rolled his eyes. he sat down on a pew and laid back. the pew was hard and rather uncomfortable, but he figured for the speech he was going to get, he better be lying down. he glanced at his watch. he would have to leave soon to meet up with the guys.
"pascal didn't believe in God," Father Ian said, "to make a long story short, he realised that if he didn't believe in God and he was right, it wouldn't matter, but if he was wrong, it would have eternal consquences. he had a 50/50 chance, and to conclude he realised he would rather be wrong in believing in God and finding out there is none, than being wrong in not believing, and being damned to hell. just a thought for you, my boy."
"Well, that was interesting, but i didn't come to church tonite for a sermon," he said.
"then why did you come?" Father Ian asked.
"Because i have sinned, and you as a priest need to give me absolution," riley replied without missing a beat.
"Forgiveness is for all, but one must want it," Father Ian said.
"I asked for it thus i must want it," Riley said, feeling annoyed. it was always a game with this priest.
"I suppose then the question is who do you want forgiveness from?" Father Ian stood right in front of Riley, and peered down at him, "You search for forgivness for allowing your friend to die, am i wrong? you fight in home that someone will forgive you. perhaps you just stood by as your friend die, too afraid to do anything? or too wrapped up in your own life to even notice that he needed help? so now you haunt the land of the dead, and houses of God, searching for some sort of peace?" Riley stood up, frightening the priest. He glared at the holy man.
"You are totally off base," he growled. he began to walk towards the exit. he should have never have come.
"Then it's about that girl, isn't it?" the priest asked. Riley whirrled around.
"what the fuck are you talking about?" he snarled. the priest smiled. Father Ian always seem to know more than he should have. when riley first came to the church, searching for someone to bless his knife, the priest knew why he came. he already knew all about riley's fight. it shouldn't have suprised him then that Father Ian knew about kaley, but it did.
"The girl at the club," he said, "i have a word of warning for you. this whoel thing could be about her. or she could be free to live her life. i would say it's up to you, but you won't believe that. now go to the bar and meet her. she's waiting for you." Riley didn't answer the priest and continued on his way out. he was shaking. he didn't know if it was from anger or some other emotion that was coursing through him. he knew he had to calm down. without thought, he began to walk towards the bar.
~/~/~
"Because i have sinned, and you as a priest need to give me absolution," riley replied without missing a beat.
"Forgiveness is for all, but one must want it," Father Ian said.
"I asked for it thus i must want it," Riley said, feeling annoyed. it was always a game with this priest.
"I suppose then the question is who do you want forgiveness from?" Father Ian stood right in front of Riley, and peered down at him, "You search for forgivness for allowing your friend to die, am i wrong? you fight in home that someone will forgive you. perhaps you just stood by as your friend die, too afraid to do anything? or too wrapped up in your own life to even notice that he needed help? so now you haunt the land of the dead, and houses of God, searching for some sort of peace?" Riley stood up, frightening the priest. He glared at the holy man.
"You are totally off base," he growled. he began to walk towards the exit. he should have never have come.
"Then it's about that girl, isn't it?" the priest asked. Riley whirrled around.
"what the fuck are you talking about?" he snarled. the priest smiled. Father Ian always seem to know more than he should have. when riley first came to the church, searching for someone to bless his knife, the priest knew why he came. he already knew all about riley's fight. it shouldn't have suprised him then that Father Ian knew about kaley, but it did.
"The girl at the club," he said, "i have a word of warning for you. this whoel thing could be about her. or she could be free to live her life. i would say it's up to you, but you won't believe that. now go to the bar and meet her. she's waiting for you." Riley didn't answer the priest and continued on his way out. he was shaking. he didn't know if it was from anger or some other emotion that was coursing through him. he knew he had to calm down. without thought, he began to walk towards the bar.
~/~/~
The street was unusally quiet. All the store lights were out and there wasn't anyone walking around. Most of the store owners had closed up shop early due to the lack of people out this night. The moon hung low in the sky, which cuased long shadows to stretch across the street. A thick fog was rolling in. It dusted agains the ground. A man entered the street, wearing a long leather coat. His hair was shoulder length and the moon reflected a light blonde colour, out of its natural brown. He walked slowly through the street, then stopped in the middle of the road. He looked up at the moon and let out a long howl. As the last notes faded away, he arched his back and transformed into a wolf. The wolf repeated the man's actions, and let out a howl.
On the opposite end of the street, a woman appeared. She wore a long black dress, that cling to her, showing off her curvy figure. Her skin was so pale, it seemed to glow in the moon light. the wolf came up to her. without fear, she stuck her hand out, allowing the wolf to sniff it. He sat down next to her, and she began to pet his head.
"Bade, this town shall be ours," she said, then the couple disapeared as if they were never there.
On the opposite end of the street, a woman appeared. She wore a long black dress, that cling to her, showing off her curvy figure. Her skin was so pale, it seemed to glow in the moon light. the wolf came up to her. without fear, she stuck her hand out, allowing the wolf to sniff it. He sat down next to her, and she began to pet his head.
"Bade, this town shall be ours," she said, then the couple disapeared as if they were never there.
~/~/~
Kaley entered the bar. She arrived earlier than usual. She had a feeling that Rachel and Lindsay would pop by to "hang out." She knew she should have stayed home, to at least stop them from worrying about her, but she had rather come here. She ordered her beer and found her spot at the back of the bar. The band was just beginning to set up. The bar had put on the radio to cover the silence. She closed her eyes but she couldn't get herself lost in the music. She opened her eyes and watched people. For the first time she felt like she didn't belong here. Everyone else looked like they did, but she felt like she was a little kid playing dress up. She looked down at her denmin skirt, sandales and pink blouse on. She felt like a sore thumb. Her eyes filled with tears. She didn't really belong anywhere, did she? Not with her friends, because they were too shallow for her, and not here because she was afraid.
She closed her eyes, and tried to stop her thinking. She leaned against the wall, just trying to stop it all, trying to stop from emotions from overruning her. She lost track of time, as she stood there, trying to calm her pounding heart and whirrling brain. A loud crash errupted her thoughts, as the drummer in the band smashed his cybol and began the song. This band was very heavy metal and it stopped her from any more thoughts entering her mind. The air vibrated with the song and she felt herself relax. She drained the rest of her beer and set the empty glass on a nearby table. She would go for another in a couple of songs.
"hey," a voice made her jump. she turned and saw riley there. She couldn't help but think how much he looked like he fit in this crowd, why on earth was he talking to her? She nodded to him, but put her forcus on the band. They were introducing themselves and thanking everyone for coming out and supporting them. Riley stood next to her and said nothing during the next song. she could tell he wanted to say something but he didn't. it unnerved her. he was kind of weird, singing that song last night, but him saying nothing was also weird. suddenly his position shifted. He seemed to stiffen and he peered intently into the crowd. She peeked over at him. his whole demenor had changed. she watched as his hand snaked back into his coat.
"what's wrong?" she asked. he jumped, as if he had forgotten that she was next to him. his hand returned to his side.
"nothing," he said a little to quickly, "look, i wanted to say sorry for last nite. i entered creepytown, didn't i?" Kaley smiled.
"Only slightly," she said.
"well, i'm sorry. i want to make it up to you," he nodded to the band. He stared back into the crowd. She frowned. what was he looking at?
"I'm sorry... i'll be back," he said and disappeared into the crowd. She watched him and frowned. what was that about? maybe he was just trying to make a fool of her, acting as if he was all interested and then would laugh in her face if she acted as if she cared. she had seen that done loads of times in high school. she wondered if life really changed after high school, or if everyone still acted stupid, but didn't have school to control them by? Like they were free to make their own decisions and didn't have to worry about being expelled from the school of life. She wondered if Riley was really just an ass. If she was to believe Lindsay all guys were asses and were after only one thing. She, though she could admit she was a bit naive, did think there were guys who were beyond that. yes, eventually they would want sex, but they wanted you first. they liked you for you and it was just about each other. She wondered if Riley was that type of guy. Or perhaps he was just an ass. maybe he was with his friends right now, laughing at her. Laughing at her extreme preppiness and how much of a tool she was. That thought actually hurt. She needed to stop thinking like this.
"You don't look like you belong here," a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. She looked at who spoke. The speaker was about her age, and wore a black t-shirt that had "rock star" written in silver glitter on it. She also had black cargo pants, and she had several piercings. The most prominent thing about her was that her hair was jet black, with a rich, almost blood coloured, red streaked through it. Kaley frowned. This woman was everything Kaley wanted to look like but was too afraid to. She opened her mouth to respond, but found she had nothing to snap back. That comment was too on the button of her thoughts. The woman smiled.
"Looks like you are ready to break free from your preppy prison, however," she stuck her hand out, "They call me Crimson." Kaley shook it, feeling really self conscious.
"I'm Kaley," she said, feeling confused.
"Kaley, eh? I like it. Better than my real name: Jenn. Do i even look like a Jenn to you?" Kaley shook her head, unsure of what to say. what did a jenn look like? and for that matter what did a kaley look like? She wondered if she looked like a Kaley.
"Anyway, i'd be glad to help you out, if you want," Crimson was saying, "Help you find the real you.. which shouldn't ever include that pink shirt." Kaley bit her lip. She didn't know this girl. Who was she to offer help to find the "real her?" Besides who said this Crimson knew who was better than she knew herself? Who said her idea of who Kaley should be would be any different from what Lindsay or Rachel thought? Crimson seemed to pick on Kaley's thoughts.
"I'm a total stranger. Of course you don't my advice. i mean, if i were you i would totally tell me to fuck off at this point. but i like you. you seem cool and you seem to be totally crying out for help. thus why i came over," Crimson said. Kaley shook her head. this was just too much at this point.
"Look, thanks and all but i'm fine. i don't need a social outreach program to teach me who i am or to enter some after school special about being true to yourself," she snapped. Crimson narrowed her eyes. Crimson pulled something out of her many pockets and handed it to Kaley. it was a little silver fang on a silver chain. the chain was small and delicate. in fact the whole thing looked as if it was expensive. this wasn't the response she was expecting.
"Keep it," Crimson said, "You are too new to know what it means but it carries some... power, if you know what i mean. I'll see you around." Crimson then disappeared into the crowd. Kaley frown and decided it was time to leave. she slid the necklace into her pocket and left the bar. this weekend had been just way too weird.
~/~/~
Riley slammed into the outside wall. He grunted as he tried to ignore the pain. This wasn't how he wanted spend his night. He had wanted to have a few beers and hang out with his friends. He allowed for the change of plans when he saw kaley. he wanted to get to know her better. she seemed a little down tonight, he wanted to try to cheer her up. he wanted to see her smile. instead something evil came into the bar. as soon as it entered it made him cold inside. no one else seemed to notice, but then again no one else in the bar had the same amount of contact with the supernatural world, as he did. he noticed the more he fought the more sensitive he was to these things. Now he was fighting two demons. he wasn't sure what they were exactly. they looked like men, but once they were outside, they poofed out in fur. He didn't think they were werewolves, but they had to be some sort of wolf type creature. One of the demons raced towards Riley and shoved him. Riley didn't even have a chance to block the attack. he flew several feet backwards, crashing onto the pavement. his body screamed in pain. this wasn't a good sign. Suddenly a shadow covered him. a man, with shoulder length hair, offered a hand to help him up. the demons seemed to stay back. Riley accepted the help and got to his feet. who was this man? immediately as soon as he got up, the man threw him back ot the ground. Riley crashed into the pavement. he cried out in pain. the main kicked Riley, who tried to roll out of the way. Shit. Another bad guy. This didn't look like it was going to end well. The man placed a foot on Riley's chest to prevent him from moving. He applied just enough pressure to begin to restrict the air ways. Riley tried not to panic. this man was strong. with a well placed stomp, his rib cage could be crushed and kill him. Riley didn't like the position he was in.
"I am Bade," he introduced himself, "and i hear you are the resident demon hunter. am i correct?" he paused. Riley gave a short nod. he wondered if he could twist himself into a position where he could grab his knife. he doubted he could without this Bade noticing. he needed to come up with a plain quick.
"Excellent. to be honest, i don't care what your name is but i am here to set down some ground rules. there are things me and my mistress need to accomplish and i can't have some rouge demon hunter get in the way. so you will leave us alone, and i won't kill you," he said. Riley didn't say anything. He felt another prescense entered the alley way. It filled him with the same dread he felt before. he couldn't see who it was.
"The seed has been set," a female voice said. Bade nodded to her and grabbed Riley's hand. Again he pulled him to his feet. Bade put an arm around Riley's shoulders and held with such force that Riley wouldn't be able to pull away. At least now he could see the female. She wore a long black dress and had long black hair. she walked up to riley and caressed his cheek.
"He's cute," she commented. Her touch made his skin crawl.
"This is the demon hunter we have been hearing about. He agrees to the rules," Bade said. Riley raised his eyebrow. he didn't remember saying that. Bade let go of Riley. The woman smiled at Riley and took his hands. a black glow began to cover riley. he tried to pull away, but found he was paralyzed to the spot. this wasn't good at all. as soon as the glow covered his body completely, she realised him.
"My Bade is a little rough, but he wants to make sure you understand. i just healed all your wounds," she said, "I hope i never see you again." Then Bade and the woman disappeared. Riley turned around, to find out what happened to the demons, but they were gone too. Riley stood there in disbelief. This was just unreal. Completely unreal. He knew his first step: find out more about the pair. He would have to act discretly, which was never his strength. But he would have to learn if he didn't want to end up dead. He left the alley, amazed at how much he didn't hurt, and headed towards the other end of town. it was time to enter those seedy bars where demons liked to hang out.
~/~/~
She closed her eyes, and tried to stop her thinking. She leaned against the wall, just trying to stop it all, trying to stop from emotions from overruning her. She lost track of time, as she stood there, trying to calm her pounding heart and whirrling brain. A loud crash errupted her thoughts, as the drummer in the band smashed his cybol and began the song. This band was very heavy metal and it stopped her from any more thoughts entering her mind. The air vibrated with the song and she felt herself relax. She drained the rest of her beer and set the empty glass on a nearby table. She would go for another in a couple of songs.
"hey," a voice made her jump. she turned and saw riley there. She couldn't help but think how much he looked like he fit in this crowd, why on earth was he talking to her? She nodded to him, but put her forcus on the band. They were introducing themselves and thanking everyone for coming out and supporting them. Riley stood next to her and said nothing during the next song. she could tell he wanted to say something but he didn't. it unnerved her. he was kind of weird, singing that song last night, but him saying nothing was also weird. suddenly his position shifted. He seemed to stiffen and he peered intently into the crowd. She peeked over at him. his whole demenor had changed. she watched as his hand snaked back into his coat.
"what's wrong?" she asked. he jumped, as if he had forgotten that she was next to him. his hand returned to his side.
"nothing," he said a little to quickly, "look, i wanted to say sorry for last nite. i entered creepytown, didn't i?" Kaley smiled.
"Only slightly," she said.
"well, i'm sorry. i want to make it up to you," he nodded to the band. He stared back into the crowd. She frowned. what was he looking at?
"I'm sorry... i'll be back," he said and disappeared into the crowd. She watched him and frowned. what was that about? maybe he was just trying to make a fool of her, acting as if he was all interested and then would laugh in her face if she acted as if she cared. she had seen that done loads of times in high school. she wondered if life really changed after high school, or if everyone still acted stupid, but didn't have school to control them by? Like they were free to make their own decisions and didn't have to worry about being expelled from the school of life. She wondered if Riley was really just an ass. If she was to believe Lindsay all guys were asses and were after only one thing. She, though she could admit she was a bit naive, did think there were guys who were beyond that. yes, eventually they would want sex, but they wanted you first. they liked you for you and it was just about each other. She wondered if Riley was that type of guy. Or perhaps he was just an ass. maybe he was with his friends right now, laughing at her. Laughing at her extreme preppiness and how much of a tool she was. That thought actually hurt. She needed to stop thinking like this.
"You don't look like you belong here," a voice said, interrupting her thoughts. She looked at who spoke. The speaker was about her age, and wore a black t-shirt that had "rock star" written in silver glitter on it. She also had black cargo pants, and she had several piercings. The most prominent thing about her was that her hair was jet black, with a rich, almost blood coloured, red streaked through it. Kaley frowned. This woman was everything Kaley wanted to look like but was too afraid to. She opened her mouth to respond, but found she had nothing to snap back. That comment was too on the button of her thoughts. The woman smiled.
"Looks like you are ready to break free from your preppy prison, however," she stuck her hand out, "They call me Crimson." Kaley shook it, feeling really self conscious.
"I'm Kaley," she said, feeling confused.
"Kaley, eh? I like it. Better than my real name: Jenn. Do i even look like a Jenn to you?" Kaley shook her head, unsure of what to say. what did a jenn look like? and for that matter what did a kaley look like? She wondered if she looked like a Kaley.
"Anyway, i'd be glad to help you out, if you want," Crimson was saying, "Help you find the real you.. which shouldn't ever include that pink shirt." Kaley bit her lip. She didn't know this girl. Who was she to offer help to find the "real her?" Besides who said this Crimson knew who was better than she knew herself? Who said her idea of who Kaley should be would be any different from what Lindsay or Rachel thought? Crimson seemed to pick on Kaley's thoughts.
"I'm a total stranger. Of course you don't my advice. i mean, if i were you i would totally tell me to fuck off at this point. but i like you. you seem cool and you seem to be totally crying out for help. thus why i came over," Crimson said. Kaley shook her head. this was just too much at this point.
"Look, thanks and all but i'm fine. i don't need a social outreach program to teach me who i am or to enter some after school special about being true to yourself," she snapped. Crimson narrowed her eyes. Crimson pulled something out of her many pockets and handed it to Kaley. it was a little silver fang on a silver chain. the chain was small and delicate. in fact the whole thing looked as if it was expensive. this wasn't the response she was expecting.
"Keep it," Crimson said, "You are too new to know what it means but it carries some... power, if you know what i mean. I'll see you around." Crimson then disappeared into the crowd. Kaley frown and decided it was time to leave. she slid the necklace into her pocket and left the bar. this weekend had been just way too weird.
~/~/~
Riley slammed into the outside wall. He grunted as he tried to ignore the pain. This wasn't how he wanted spend his night. He had wanted to have a few beers and hang out with his friends. He allowed for the change of plans when he saw kaley. he wanted to get to know her better. she seemed a little down tonight, he wanted to try to cheer her up. he wanted to see her smile. instead something evil came into the bar. as soon as it entered it made him cold inside. no one else seemed to notice, but then again no one else in the bar had the same amount of contact with the supernatural world, as he did. he noticed the more he fought the more sensitive he was to these things. Now he was fighting two demons. he wasn't sure what they were exactly. they looked like men, but once they were outside, they poofed out in fur. He didn't think they were werewolves, but they had to be some sort of wolf type creature. One of the demons raced towards Riley and shoved him. Riley didn't even have a chance to block the attack. he flew several feet backwards, crashing onto the pavement. his body screamed in pain. this wasn't a good sign. Suddenly a shadow covered him. a man, with shoulder length hair, offered a hand to help him up. the demons seemed to stay back. Riley accepted the help and got to his feet. who was this man? immediately as soon as he got up, the man threw him back ot the ground. Riley crashed into the pavement. he cried out in pain. the main kicked Riley, who tried to roll out of the way. Shit. Another bad guy. This didn't look like it was going to end well. The man placed a foot on Riley's chest to prevent him from moving. He applied just enough pressure to begin to restrict the air ways. Riley tried not to panic. this man was strong. with a well placed stomp, his rib cage could be crushed and kill him. Riley didn't like the position he was in.
"I am Bade," he introduced himself, "and i hear you are the resident demon hunter. am i correct?" he paused. Riley gave a short nod. he wondered if he could twist himself into a position where he could grab his knife. he doubted he could without this Bade noticing. he needed to come up with a plain quick.
"Excellent. to be honest, i don't care what your name is but i am here to set down some ground rules. there are things me and my mistress need to accomplish and i can't have some rouge demon hunter get in the way. so you will leave us alone, and i won't kill you," he said. Riley didn't say anything. He felt another prescense entered the alley way. It filled him with the same dread he felt before. he couldn't see who it was.
"The seed has been set," a female voice said. Bade nodded to her and grabbed Riley's hand. Again he pulled him to his feet. Bade put an arm around Riley's shoulders and held with such force that Riley wouldn't be able to pull away. At least now he could see the female. She wore a long black dress and had long black hair. she walked up to riley and caressed his cheek.
"He's cute," she commented. Her touch made his skin crawl.
"This is the demon hunter we have been hearing about. He agrees to the rules," Bade said. Riley raised his eyebrow. he didn't remember saying that. Bade let go of Riley. The woman smiled at Riley and took his hands. a black glow began to cover riley. he tried to pull away, but found he was paralyzed to the spot. this wasn't good at all. as soon as the glow covered his body completely, she realised him.
"My Bade is a little rough, but he wants to make sure you understand. i just healed all your wounds," she said, "I hope i never see you again." Then Bade and the woman disappeared. Riley turned around, to find out what happened to the demons, but they were gone too. Riley stood there in disbelief. This was just unreal. Completely unreal. He knew his first step: find out more about the pair. He would have to act discretly, which was never his strength. But he would have to learn if he didn't want to end up dead. He left the alley, amazed at how much he didn't hurt, and headed towards the other end of town. it was time to enter those seedy bars where demons liked to hang out.
~/~/~
Kaley poked at her peas on her dinner plate. She hated peas. Yet every time she went over to her parent's place they served her peas with some funky smelling meatloaf. she sometimes wondered if it was their way to get her to stop coming over, but if that was the case, then they would stop inviting her over for sunday night dinners. She was the middle child of three children. All which were girls. the eldest, Julie, was 25 and lived about an hour away from here. She worked in a business firm, and was a manager. Julie rarely had time to come down and spend time with her family. the last Kaley had heard from her older sister was several months ago, and it was just a quick email to Kaley cancelling their weekend together. Kaley was suppose to go up to meet Julie and do some of the sister type things. Julie was suppose to reschedule but never did. However, Julie did still call her parents about once a week, just to check in.
Randi was the youngest. She was 15 and was a spoiled teenager. she was a complete emo kid, including the whiny music and the online journal. Kaley didn't think the online journal wasn't so bad. she thought about getting one once in a while to vent out her thoughts, but one day Randi had shared the address with Kaley, and she had read it. it was full of typical teenaged angst. it was just too over the top. Kaley didn't remember being like that when she was a teenager but then again she didn't run in the same type of crowd that Randi does. Kaley wondered if that meant that Randi would be happier with who she was when she was kaley's age. Kaley looked at her younger sister. She had died her light brown hair black, and had her earphones jammed into her ears. She wondered if she was listening to any music, and was blissfully drowning out the mindless questions of her parents. Randi stabbed a pea with such force it flew off the dinner plate and landed in the butter. Kaley snickered. Her mother frowned at her.
"Kaley, have you decided when you are going to university? Surely, you don't plan to work at that resturant for the rest of your life, do you?" she asked, as she scooped a few peas on her fork. It was the same question every sunday night.
"I haven't decided what to take at school yet, mom," Kaley said. She was so tired of that question. She had told them over and over that she would apply for post secondary education as soon as she knew what she wanted to do.
"I know what i want to do," Randi piped up, "I'm going to get into photography. Freelance is really hard to get into, so i'm going to take a journalism program, so i can get my in with that. but once i'm established as a newphotographer, i'll be able to take other types of photos as well." Kaley smiled. That actually seemed well thought out for Randi. She heard an impatient sigh from her father.
"There is no money in that, Randi," he said, "really, i don't understand you two girls. Julie took the right route and she is set for life. you should take a business course, or become a lawyer or something. it doesn't matter if you enjoy your job, you just have to be able to support yourself." Kaley rolled her eyes. well, if that was the case, then it shouldn't matter if she wasn't in school. She was supporting herself quite well. Randi rolled her eyes as well.
"sure, if you want to be a mindless drone," she said, "but life is more than that. it means more than that. i would rather be a starving artist, than waking up every morning wishing i was dead because i hate my job so much." she said and stabbed another pea. Kaley noted that Randi hadn't even touched the meatloaf yet. smart girl.
"Is that a new necklace, Kaley?" her mother asked, clearly trying to change the subject. Kaley reached up and touched the silver necklace. She didn't know why but she decided to wear it today. She didn't know what it meant but she couldn't agrue the compulsion to wear it. Besides the silver looked nice against her black blouse she wore. She actually envision the silver fang against the black material of a sweatshirt or a tshirt, but she didn't really own anything like that. sweatshirts like that weren't cool enough for lindsay and rachel.
"Um.. yeah, a new friend gave it to me," she semi lied. She swallowed the last of her dinner and collected her plate to the kitchen sink before her mom could ask anymore questions. She frowned and touched the necklace again. Randi followed her in.
"I like it," she said, "The fang is really cool, but better than that other crap you wear." Randi scraped the untouched meatloaf into the garbage. Kaley thanked her and left the kitchen. She walked up to her old bedroom, which had been converted into an office type room. an old computer sat in the corner and looked like it hadn't been turned on in months. She heard Randi entered her bedroom, which was right next to kaley's old one, and turn on her computer. within minutes, she could hear randi begin to type. mostly likely to write about how boring and vile dinner was in her online journal. Kaley sat down in an armchair and closed her eyes. Her mom and dad were downstairs, staring the dishes. She could remember back when she was Randi's age, sitting in this room. within minutes of retreating up her, her parents would call her out. Either to help with the dishes, something Julie never had to do, or because the phone just rang and lindsay or rachel wanted to talk. There was never really a moment of peace. Kaley, although she wanted it, knew she should be grateful she always had friends to do stuff with. it was better to be too busy then a loser crying in her room night after night. Kaley touched the cool metal of the fang again. "You are too new to know what it means but it carries some... power, if you know what i mean." Crimson's words seem to whisper over her. she wondered what that meant. She wondered if she would see Crimson again.
The stairs creaked and Kaley stood up, trying to forget about last nights meeting with Crimson. Her mom popped her head in.
"Your dad is ready to drive you home, if you are ready," she said. Kaley nodded and followed her mother back downstairs. As she grabbed her purse, she wondered if she should ask her father to drop her off at the bar instead. She could peek inside, see if Crimson, or even Riley was around, and if one of them were, then she could hang out with them for a bit. If not, she would walk home. It wasn't that far. She looked at her parents. No, she wouldn't ask. She didn't want to explain herself for wanting to be dropped off there. Besides, she had work in the morning. Hopefully she would see either of them next weekend. She called goodbye to her sister and left the house. Another delightful sunday meal with her parents was over.
Randi was the youngest. She was 15 and was a spoiled teenager. she was a complete emo kid, including the whiny music and the online journal. Kaley didn't think the online journal wasn't so bad. she thought about getting one once in a while to vent out her thoughts, but one day Randi had shared the address with Kaley, and she had read it. it was full of typical teenaged angst. it was just too over the top. Kaley didn't remember being like that when she was a teenager but then again she didn't run in the same type of crowd that Randi does. Kaley wondered if that meant that Randi would be happier with who she was when she was kaley's age. Kaley looked at her younger sister. She had died her light brown hair black, and had her earphones jammed into her ears. She wondered if she was listening to any music, and was blissfully drowning out the mindless questions of her parents. Randi stabbed a pea with such force it flew off the dinner plate and landed in the butter. Kaley snickered. Her mother frowned at her.
"Kaley, have you decided when you are going to university? Surely, you don't plan to work at that resturant for the rest of your life, do you?" she asked, as she scooped a few peas on her fork. It was the same question every sunday night.
"I haven't decided what to take at school yet, mom," Kaley said. She was so tired of that question. She had told them over and over that she would apply for post secondary education as soon as she knew what she wanted to do.
"I know what i want to do," Randi piped up, "I'm going to get into photography. Freelance is really hard to get into, so i'm going to take a journalism program, so i can get my in with that. but once i'm established as a newphotographer, i'll be able to take other types of photos as well." Kaley smiled. That actually seemed well thought out for Randi. She heard an impatient sigh from her father.
"There is no money in that, Randi," he said, "really, i don't understand you two girls. Julie took the right route and she is set for life. you should take a business course, or become a lawyer or something. it doesn't matter if you enjoy your job, you just have to be able to support yourself." Kaley rolled her eyes. well, if that was the case, then it shouldn't matter if she wasn't in school. She was supporting herself quite well. Randi rolled her eyes as well.
"sure, if you want to be a mindless drone," she said, "but life is more than that. it means more than that. i would rather be a starving artist, than waking up every morning wishing i was dead because i hate my job so much." she said and stabbed another pea. Kaley noted that Randi hadn't even touched the meatloaf yet. smart girl.
"Is that a new necklace, Kaley?" her mother asked, clearly trying to change the subject. Kaley reached up and touched the silver necklace. She didn't know why but she decided to wear it today. She didn't know what it meant but she couldn't agrue the compulsion to wear it. Besides the silver looked nice against her black blouse she wore. She actually envision the silver fang against the black material of a sweatshirt or a tshirt, but she didn't really own anything like that. sweatshirts like that weren't cool enough for lindsay and rachel.
"Um.. yeah, a new friend gave it to me," she semi lied. She swallowed the last of her dinner and collected her plate to the kitchen sink before her mom could ask anymore questions. She frowned and touched the necklace again. Randi followed her in.
"I like it," she said, "The fang is really cool, but better than that other crap you wear." Randi scraped the untouched meatloaf into the garbage. Kaley thanked her and left the kitchen. She walked up to her old bedroom, which had been converted into an office type room. an old computer sat in the corner and looked like it hadn't been turned on in months. She heard Randi entered her bedroom, which was right next to kaley's old one, and turn on her computer. within minutes, she could hear randi begin to type. mostly likely to write about how boring and vile dinner was in her online journal. Kaley sat down in an armchair and closed her eyes. Her mom and dad were downstairs, staring the dishes. She could remember back when she was Randi's age, sitting in this room. within minutes of retreating up her, her parents would call her out. Either to help with the dishes, something Julie never had to do, or because the phone just rang and lindsay or rachel wanted to talk. There was never really a moment of peace. Kaley, although she wanted it, knew she should be grateful she always had friends to do stuff with. it was better to be too busy then a loser crying in her room night after night. Kaley touched the cool metal of the fang again. "You are too new to know what it means but it carries some... power, if you know what i mean." Crimson's words seem to whisper over her. she wondered what that meant. She wondered if she would see Crimson again.
The stairs creaked and Kaley stood up, trying to forget about last nights meeting with Crimson. Her mom popped her head in.
"Your dad is ready to drive you home, if you are ready," she said. Kaley nodded and followed her mother back downstairs. As she grabbed her purse, she wondered if she should ask her father to drop her off at the bar instead. She could peek inside, see if Crimson, or even Riley was around, and if one of them were, then she could hang out with them for a bit. If not, she would walk home. It wasn't that far. She looked at her parents. No, she wouldn't ask. She didn't want to explain herself for wanting to be dropped off there. Besides, she had work in the morning. Hopefully she would see either of them next weekend. She called goodbye to her sister and left the house. Another delightful sunday meal with her parents was over.
~/~/~
"Pater noster, qui es in caelis
Sanctificetur nomen tuum;
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua
Sicut in caelo et in terra
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie.
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
Sed libera nos a malo," Father Ian sang as he sat in his office. The King James Bible sat open in front of him, and his notes for Sunday's service were placed all over his desk. He took a sip from his silver flask. The liquor burnt his throat as it slid down and it felt good. He picked up a yellow legal sheet, with the end of his sermon scrawled on it. He took another sip and began to sing the Lord's Prayer again. He heard a crash down the hall and he jumped to his feet. He grabbed the desk for balance. It was late. He glanced at the clock on his desk. Five to twelve. He had locked up the sacuary before he had retreated to his office. He took another sip from his flask for bravery before he headed towards the noise. he looked into the House of the Lord. Candle light flicked against the walls. He moved slowly towards the church. he heard laughter inside. He peeked his head in. A woman, dressed all in black, stood at the altar. she seemed to be searching for something. a large wolf was lying across the asle. He cleared his throat. The woman turned around.
"Ah! Father Ian!" she called. she walked down the asle to him and wrapped him in a hug. He could feel evilness roll off in waves from her. He whispered a prayer. She laughed.
"Now now, Father Ian," she said, "God is ignoring this. Really, i'll get out of your way in just a second but i need one thing from you." She put her arm around his shoulder and lead up to the front of the church. He followed her up but didn't say anything. He knew that it would be best to keep quiet and to let the woman speak. As they neared the wolf, it lifted it's head and growled at the priest. the woman stepped over the animal, as if it wasn't even there.
Sanctificetur nomen tuum;
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua
Sicut in caelo et in terra
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie.
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
Sed libera nos a malo," Father Ian sang as he sat in his office. The King James Bible sat open in front of him, and his notes for Sunday's service were placed all over his desk. He took a sip from his silver flask. The liquor burnt his throat as it slid down and it felt good. He picked up a yellow legal sheet, with the end of his sermon scrawled on it. He took another sip and began to sing the Lord's Prayer again. He heard a crash down the hall and he jumped to his feet. He grabbed the desk for balance. It was late. He glanced at the clock on his desk. Five to twelve. He had locked up the sacuary before he had retreated to his office. He took another sip from his flask for bravery before he headed towards the noise. he looked into the House of the Lord. Candle light flicked against the walls. He moved slowly towards the church. he heard laughter inside. He peeked his head in. A woman, dressed all in black, stood at the altar. she seemed to be searching for something. a large wolf was lying across the asle. He cleared his throat. The woman turned around.
"Ah! Father Ian!" she called. she walked down the asle to him and wrapped him in a hug. He could feel evilness roll off in waves from her. He whispered a prayer. She laughed.
"Now now, Father Ian," she said, "God is ignoring this. Really, i'll get out of your way in just a second but i need one thing from you." She put her arm around his shoulder and lead up to the front of the church. He followed her up but didn't say anything. He knew that it would be best to keep quiet and to let the woman speak. As they neared the wolf, it lifted it's head and growled at the priest. the woman stepped over the animal, as if it wasn't even there.
"I don't want anything really big. I just want the strongest power in the universe. Now before you get on your high horse and tell me that's God, blah blah blah. i have devised a way to gather power. i have the hunter out of the way, i have the girl but now this is where you come in," she said. Father remained silent. The woman faced the animal.
"Bade, darling, human form please," she said and the wolf transformed into a man. Father Ian swallowed. This didn't look good. He closed his eyes and began to pray. That was his only option right now. The woman laughed beside him.
"Father, i told you. God isn't paying attention to this and therefore He isn't going to hear your prayers. Somethings are meant to happen, and i know this is one of them. But don't worry, it's not like i'm going to split hell open and allow the demons to come out."
"Then what?" he growled, finally speaking, "what is it that you are after?" Bade grabbed a hold of Father Ian and slammed him against the altar.
"Well, i have been told that you tell the hunter things. you know things and see things and i can't have you going to the hunter and helping him. i really doubt that we scared him off our tracks for good. so what we need from you is to be out of the picture," She began to walk down the aisle, "I hoped you had a good life, Father." Bade transformed back into the wolf and ran to the woman's side. The couple disappeared as the church was engulfed with flames.
"Bade, darling, human form please," she said and the wolf transformed into a man. Father Ian swallowed. This didn't look good. He closed his eyes and began to pray. That was his only option right now. The woman laughed beside him.
"Father, i told you. God isn't paying attention to this and therefore He isn't going to hear your prayers. Somethings are meant to happen, and i know this is one of them. But don't worry, it's not like i'm going to split hell open and allow the demons to come out."
"Then what?" he growled, finally speaking, "what is it that you are after?" Bade grabbed a hold of Father Ian and slammed him against the altar.
"Well, i have been told that you tell the hunter things. you know things and see things and i can't have you going to the hunter and helping him. i really doubt that we scared him off our tracks for good. so what we need from you is to be out of the picture," She began to walk down the aisle, "I hoped you had a good life, Father." Bade transformed back into the wolf and ran to the woman's side. The couple disappeared as the church was engulfed with flames.
~/~/~
The Pussycat Dolls played in the background. The loudest noise was Lindsay singing "Don't Cha" loudly and offkey. Lindsay thought herself of something special and at the present moment it bugged Kaley to no end. She pushed the door open and left the Employee Room. The schedule read that she was suppose to be working half her shift in the bar and then after dinner time she was to go out and help seat people in the family part of the restartent. She didn't care right now. She felt irrated still from the other night's dinner. She knew she should put it out of her mind but everyone's expectations of her was grating on her nerves. Like on Monday morning she got a call from Rachel asking where she was Saturday nite. Kaley lied and said she had gone to bed earlier. Subconsciously, she reached up and teached the silver fang that she wore around her neck. No one noticed it at work. Which was fine with her because she didn't have a good reason made up to how she got it. She didn't want to explain Crimson... not that there was anything to explain.
She stepped behind the bar and gave a smile to Stu, who was serving the few men who were already there in the early afternoon. Kaley froze when she realised she recongized one of the men. He was sucking back a bottle of beer, and there were a couple of empties around him. She walked over and reached for one. Shiny eyes looked at her annoyed.
"Didn't I ask for them to be left there?" he growled. Recongnization entered his eyes, "Kaley? I didn't know you worked here." She smiled.
"Hey, isn't it a bit early for drinking this much?" she asked. She kept her tone light. As if it meant nothing to her that Riley was there. And it didn't mean anything to her. Or at least she would tell herself that. There was a range of emotions going on inside her that she didn't want to figure out right now. Riley took another drink of his beer.
"You're right," his voice was low, "But i just discovered that someone i didn't even like died last night. And for some reason it is effecting me. So here's to drinking it away!" he raised his bottle. Riley was already drunk Kaley sighed and walked around to sit next to him. She touched his arm.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. Who passed on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice sounding soothing.
"A priest. I'm not even religious. He got on my nerves. Always knew too much, you know? Always threw his faith, his God in my face. Thought he knew more than me. Couldn't have known that much. He died. Didn't see that come. Whole church gone. Nothing but cinders. Including him. Dust in the fucking wind," he said. Kaley noticed that Stu was standing nearby, watching over her. They both had problems with guys being drunk and trying things with the girls. Stu was just protecting Kaley however his hovering annoyed her. She wanted some privacy. She thought of something and debated. She looked over at Stu.
"Can you do me a favour? Call Rachel and ask her to cover for me. Tell her i'll take her shift tomorrow." Stu frowned. He knew what she intended.
"You sure?" he asked. Kaley nodded. She took the bottle out of Riley's hand. It was empty now anyway.
"Come on, we are going home. This isn't the place to be grieving anyway." Riley nodded, not saying anything. He followed Kaley out of the restuarant. On their way out, Lindsay tossed Kaley a glance, clearly saying, "what are you doing with him?" Kaley ignored it and tried not to worry about what her and Rachel would say later. Right now what was important was Riley.
She stepped behind the bar and gave a smile to Stu, who was serving the few men who were already there in the early afternoon. Kaley froze when she realised she recongized one of the men. He was sucking back a bottle of beer, and there were a couple of empties around him. She walked over and reached for one. Shiny eyes looked at her annoyed.
"Didn't I ask for them to be left there?" he growled. Recongnization entered his eyes, "Kaley? I didn't know you worked here." She smiled.
"Hey, isn't it a bit early for drinking this much?" she asked. She kept her tone light. As if it meant nothing to her that Riley was there. And it didn't mean anything to her. Or at least she would tell herself that. There was a range of emotions going on inside her that she didn't want to figure out right now. Riley took another drink of his beer.
"You're right," his voice was low, "But i just discovered that someone i didn't even like died last night. And for some reason it is effecting me. So here's to drinking it away!" he raised his bottle. Riley was already drunk Kaley sighed and walked around to sit next to him. She touched his arm.
"I'm so sorry to hear that. Who passed on?" she asked, trying to keep her voice sounding soothing.
"A priest. I'm not even religious. He got on my nerves. Always knew too much, you know? Always threw his faith, his God in my face. Thought he knew more than me. Couldn't have known that much. He died. Didn't see that come. Whole church gone. Nothing but cinders. Including him. Dust in the fucking wind," he said. Kaley noticed that Stu was standing nearby, watching over her. They both had problems with guys being drunk and trying things with the girls. Stu was just protecting Kaley however his hovering annoyed her. She wanted some privacy. She thought of something and debated. She looked over at Stu.
"Can you do me a favour? Call Rachel and ask her to cover for me. Tell her i'll take her shift tomorrow." Stu frowned. He knew what she intended.
"You sure?" he asked. Kaley nodded. She took the bottle out of Riley's hand. It was empty now anyway.
"Come on, we are going home. This isn't the place to be grieving anyway." Riley nodded, not saying anything. He followed Kaley out of the restuarant. On their way out, Lindsay tossed Kaley a glance, clearly saying, "what are you doing with him?" Kaley ignored it and tried not to worry about what her and Rachel would say later. Right now what was important was Riley.
~/~/~
Riley woke up, feeling numb. He didn't want to remember why he felt like this, even though it hit him right away. The priest he didn't even like was dead. it was just so unsettling. it was unnerving. He thought Father Ian would always be there to impart his annoying wisdom. But he saw the church. Or what was left of the church. Only piles of charred bricks remained. He tried to get passed the police line, to see the extend of the damage but he was stopped. An eldery woman, whom he seen a couple of times leaving the church, was standing at the sidewalk. Riley had asked her what happened. She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. She whispered that it was an act against God, that only a demon could have done damage like this. Riley knew that was the truth, even if the old woman didn't know. It had to be the demon from the other night but why attack this church? Father Ian?
"hey, you're up," Riley blinked and saw Kaley. She had let him stay here for a while. He was grateful. He knew he shouldn't have gone to the bar but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
"Thanks," he said, feeling his cheeks turning red. She sat down near his feet. He sat up. Now they were on opposite ends of the couch. This isn't how he wanted to get to know her.
"Look... i'm not usually like that. Father Ian's death just hit me harder than i thought," he said. She nodded, looking at her hands.
"It's okay... people grieve in different ways," she said then stood up, "I have made some pasta if you want any." He shook his head. He knew he just ruined any chance he had with kaley.
"No thanks. i should just get out of here. i think i have bothered you enough." he stood up.
"That's not true. If i didn't want you help, i wouldn't have," she said. she looked at him. now it was his turn to look away. Then he felt something weird. Now he could hear it. it was like a whistling noise, rushing towards him. The door to Kaley's apartment bust open and a black mist entered. Riley reached for his knife, but realised he wasn't wearing his coat. He looked around. Kaley must have put it away. Kaley. He stepped closer to her. She looked terrified. Now the Mist realised a noise like a thousand screams. Kaley covered her ears. Riley whinced. He needed to get her out of here. Once Kaley was safe he would fight it... not that he knew how to fight this Mist thing. It charged towards them. Riley moved in front of her. He could understand words within the screams.
"The fang... this one is the one... the sign... grab her!" Riley didn't know what they were talking about but the only "her" was Kaley and he'd be damned if he allowed this thing to have her. The Mist solidified. The screams stopped.
"The girl," the Mist hissed, "the girl is the one we want. Hunter, step aside."
"Nope. Sorry. No can do," Riley said and slammed his fist into the demon's face. It was mushy like a cake but the demon stepped away, whining. He had hurt it.
"hey, you're up," Riley blinked and saw Kaley. She had let him stay here for a while. He was grateful. He knew he shouldn't have gone to the bar but it seemed like a good idea at the time.
"Thanks," he said, feeling his cheeks turning red. She sat down near his feet. He sat up. Now they were on opposite ends of the couch. This isn't how he wanted to get to know her.
"Look... i'm not usually like that. Father Ian's death just hit me harder than i thought," he said. She nodded, looking at her hands.
"It's okay... people grieve in different ways," she said then stood up, "I have made some pasta if you want any." He shook his head. He knew he just ruined any chance he had with kaley.
"No thanks. i should just get out of here. i think i have bothered you enough." he stood up.
"That's not true. If i didn't want you help, i wouldn't have," she said. she looked at him. now it was his turn to look away. Then he felt something weird. Now he could hear it. it was like a whistling noise, rushing towards him. The door to Kaley's apartment bust open and a black mist entered. Riley reached for his knife, but realised he wasn't wearing his coat. He looked around. Kaley must have put it away. Kaley. He stepped closer to her. She looked terrified. Now the Mist realised a noise like a thousand screams. Kaley covered her ears. Riley whinced. He needed to get her out of here. Once Kaley was safe he would fight it... not that he knew how to fight this Mist thing. It charged towards them. Riley moved in front of her. He could understand words within the screams.
"The fang... this one is the one... the sign... grab her!" Riley didn't know what they were talking about but the only "her" was Kaley and he'd be damned if he allowed this thing to have her. The Mist solidified. The screams stopped.
"The girl," the Mist hissed, "the girl is the one we want. Hunter, step aside."
"Nope. Sorry. No can do," Riley said and slammed his fist into the demon's face. It was mushy like a cake but the demon stepped away, whining. He had hurt it.
"The fang..." it hissed, "The fang is the sign. we were told to search for the fang and bring her out!" Riley nodded. This was interesting information. He grabbed the Mist's hand and twisted it. It hoped on one foot.
"Who sent you?" Riley demanded. the Mist whimpered. Riley twisted harder.
"The mistress," it whined.
"Who sent you?" Riley demanded. the Mist whimpered. Riley twisted harder.
"The mistress," it whined.
"A name would be nice," riley growled. The Mist shrugged and reentered it's misty form. Riley stepped in front of Kaley. The mist, as strangely as it appeared, disappeared. Riley looked at Kaley. Without thinking he grabbed a hold of her necklace.
"The fang," he raised his eyebrow at her. She pulled away.
"What the hell was that?" her voice was shaking.
"A demon," Riley replied. He still held the fang. Why did she have it? And what did it mean? It was just a silver fang.
"The fang," he raised his eyebrow at her. She pulled away.
"What the hell was that?" her voice was shaking.
"A demon," Riley replied. He still held the fang. Why did she have it? And what did it mean? It was just a silver fang.
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