Story Blog of Hecate N. Nix

Lirren opened the door leading to the alley, pausing only long enough to take a swift breath of the cool, damp night air into her lungs before stepping out allowing the door to close behind her. Stepping forward she heard something move across the alley from her.

'Well, well, well. What have we here boys?' the voice came from beside the trash cans against the opposite wall of the alley. It seems one of the chickadees  has gotten herself lost.' More laughter came from further back in the alley and more from the entrance. The speaker, most obviously the leader of this little foray stepped out from  the shadow of the trash cans enough that the light from above the cafe's door fell full upon him. He was tall but not overly muscular if the tight black jeans and leather jacket spoke true of form. He wore sunglasses even though it was quite dark in the alley itself and held an iron bar in one glove clothed hand cocked at an angle over one shoulder. 'So, what do you say duckie, wanna play?' 

The laughter this time came not from the hooligans on either side nor from their brazen leader who had just swaggered  forward, but from the young woman standing directly under the street light. This laugh no longer spoke of tinkling bells. This was a deeper, less friendly sound. The sound invited thoughts of a practiced killer standing over the newest corpse, of the madman in his padded cell, of the evil lurking just out of sight of the knowing adults in the closets of children all over the world. 'I do not think you wish to do this,' she said without looking up.

'Now baby, don't be that way. We're going to have a lot of fun together... well, one of us is going to have fun,' he laughed, trying to imitate her earlier noise but gave up quickly when it came out tinny and somewhat frantic even to his own ears.

'Oh, I'm sure one of us will. I'm just not sure your and my ideas of fun are the same. You see, I fear you may not like the way I play.' suddenly her head snapped up and for the first time he saw her eyes. Instead of the vibrant emerald eyes he remembered from class, ruby red ones locked his gaze, refusing to let him look away. A new laugh came from the back of the alley breaking his trance and for a moment he thought he was safe. 'Can I join the fun?'

He glance to the right to see, which comrade had come to his aid but what he saw made his eyes bulge. There crouched in the epicenter of a pile of his friends stood something that couldn't have been believed. The thing began to raise to it's full height and the truth of what he was facing suddenly began to dawn on the poor boy. Standing at least eight feet in height when fully erect the creature might still have passed for human had its head not contained a jaw line and teeth no human being could have possessed. On second look it could never have passed for on of the Homo sapien species. The massive jowls drew back into a purely canine face. the feet and legs as well spoke of some kind of lupine descent. In fact only the torso and arms, well muscled but completely within the realm of reality spoke of any kind of human connection.

'Mmmmm.... ssave a little ssssomething for meeee....' came a purring voice from the entrance of the alley making him involuntarily glance away from the monster before him. This new sight was no better than the first. Again his buddies lay strewn across the ground like so many ragdolls left by a careless toddler. Again, a monster stood in their midst. The only difference was that where the other's features spoke of some insane dog mix, this physique was purely feline in nature. The creature cocked it's head at him before beginning to pad toward him, it's movements swaying and graceful, almost serpentine. A tail that licked playfully from side to side only enhanced this movement.

'Oh dear,' came a voice from right behind him. He attempted to twist around to see from whence the voice had originated only to find he couldn't turn, could barely move and was surprised to find the source of his entrapment was a pair of delicate looking arms. Yet, for all their frailty they bound him in place as easily as steel bands might have. 'I'm afraid I was right. Our kind of fun was just too much for him. We've gone and frightened the poor thing.' Then he knew who was behind him. Looking up he found no blazing eyed beauty before him and his worst suspicions were confirmed.

'L...look, just...just let me go okay? Let me go and I won't tell anyone. I promise, I swear! Truly!'

That horrible laughter came again piercing this time at such an intimate range. It sent shivers of dread crawling down his spine. ' He thinks he can barter, that he actually has a say in the matter. How...droll.' He made to jerk himself out of her grasp only to feel something graze his neck. He cried out as he felt a white hot pain lance through his neck an down his spine. A burst of light appeared before his eyes and then everything went dark.

Lirren closed the pin-prick holes in the teen's neck and wiped daintily at her face with a small lace handkerchief she  pulled from her left sleeve. Turning to the two larger than life figures to her left her features returned to their normal set other than a concerned arch to one brow. 'Forgive me for dragging you into this mess. I did not realize the girl would go so far as to try and have someone attack me. I want you to know that I could have handled this but that I appreciate your help and concern greatly. Also, I swear by Ellian beard that I will not give away your secret. I know you have no reason to trust me but I have known since the first day I met you and did not tell. Surely this is a how do you say, act of good faith on my part? I will of course leave this city if you my presence here makes you uncomfortable.'

'What are you talking about?' Anubis asked his elongated jaw line slowly receding back into Andre's familiar features. 'This is even better than we had hoped. I mean, before I thought we'd have to always keep some part of ourselves away from you but now! I mean, you know what we are and you're a mythic as well!' 

'Anu, shut up. You do not speak for me,' Bast said her eyes still glittering and pupils in slits in an otherwise human face. 'Don't get me wrong Lirren. I am glad you felt you could show us what you are but how do we know you aren't a threat. We have certainly seen the back stabbing nature of most vampyres. Why should we believe you are any different?'

The smile on her face died slowly into what might have been a good affectation of her usual appearance had it not been for the pain in her eyes. It shown there like a light revealing to all the inner workings of her heart then quickly as though shaking herself it was gone. 'Of course, how inconsiderate of me.  I am sorry. I will leave  this place at once.' She turned preparing to pick up the girl. 'I will be out of your way by nightfall. I must of course deal with certain matters first but I will make certain none of this falls on either of you.' With that she began dragging the semi-concious girl out of the alley. 

Just outside the opening to the alley stood a figure moving in to peer around the wall. 'I am sorry to disappoint you my dear but your little friends are going to be slightly detained. No!' Her voice was a whip of command and silenced Erin as she prepared to scream in fact it stopped her from being able to make any kind of noise. Her hands darted to her mouth as she scrabbled to find a way to open her seemingly locked jaw. In the moments that followed she lost sight of her adversary so it came as a shock to hear her voice so close. 'Really, I thought you might be more of a challenge but it's like swatting a pesky mosquito.' With that her fangs clamped down on the girl's neck. Unable to scream she writhed in pain as piercing heat flowed from her neck into her chest before blissful oblivion took her. She would have swooned had not Lirren caught her but as it was she was already tapping into the girl's mind. It wasn't complex and so made it easy to send the light command to stay up right and keep her eyes open even when no one was at home behind it. 

Once finished she pulled away wiping at her lips.  After making certain that no hint of her liquid meal was evident upon her person she pulled the girl to a  black motorcycle parked near the entrance to the cafe. Leaning in she whispered into the girl's ear, 'you will hold on and you will cause no more trouble until we get to your home. Once there you may do as you wish.'  Climbing on in front she waited as the girl jerkily complied before starting up the bike. The engine growled to life and as she clutched the throttle they pulled out in one graceful move and sped off into the night. She headed out past the school into a more remote section of town. Turning onto the girl's street one could see that it was an area of wealth as each house rivaled the first for splendor. She made her way to the end of the boulevard and pulled up to the wrought iron fence that blocked entry to the driveway of the most grand of all the houses on the block. Punching the call button on the communication grid she waited for the static that proceeded a rough 'the master's not expecting no' guests, 'specially not street trash so take yerself off.'

'I am sorry to make trouble for you at such a time of the night good sir but I am here to deliver Mr. Taylor's daughter Erin, one of my class mates. She is not doing well, and I fear if this takes too long she may pass out again.' Lirren spoke smoothly into the intercom as though she were holding polite conversation with a gentleman of high class.

'Oh, I...I'm sorry. I didn't know. Um... the gate will be just a sec. You can bring 'er around to the front entrance if you could. Uh...sorry again about that.' The man stumbled over himself as the gate swung open allowing access to the private driveway.  Lirren gunned the motor and shot forward through the darkness toward the glimmering lights at the end of the path. She came to a halt just behind a  midnight blue Rolls-Royce Phantom. Stepping agilely from the bike she eyed the car appreciatively.

Erin was beginning to stir, coming out of her trance as the front doors to the mansion boomed open and an intimidating man in a three piece suit came storming down the front stairs. 'What is the meaning of this. What have you done to my daughter explain yourself!' He looked around wildly for the hooligan only to find a beautiful young woman step out from the shadows of his beloved car. 

'I am the one to blame sir if you are looking for the culprit. Please let me introduce myself, I am Lirren al Sepet and am a student at your daughter's school.' Her voice washed over him like softest silk and it took a moment for him to realize she was holding her hand out to him. Taking it numbly her shook it.

'Well, erm, what are you doing bringing her home? I don't think I've ever seen you? Are you one of her new little friends?'

Erin rushed forward clutching her father's arm as the reality of what had transpired earlier in the night came flooding back to her. 'No Daddy! She's not my friend! She's a vampire! I saw her drink blood and she bit me earlier!'

'Sir, I believe you need get her inside,' Lirren cut in smoothly. 'I am afraid to have to tell you this but my uncle and I found your daughter and a few males from our class snorting some illegal substances outside of our new cafe, The Electric Rose. The boys were sent home and I got a call on the way here that at least one of them is having extreme hallucinations, possibly a side effect of the drugs. My uncle suggested that we should call the police but I dissuaded him because I would not want anything bad to happen to your daughter's reputation just because of one little mistake. Unfortunately when we tried to get Erin to leave she passed out and we found...items on her person that indicate she may be the one providing these substances.'

'How dare you imply my daughter is a drug dealer?! You can't prove any of this! I will see you brought up on charges of slander!'

'Unfortunately sir, I can. Several of the boys have already confessed getting drugs from her and while this is not evidence enough we were able to persuade them to tell us where she hides her 'stash.'  Apparently, and perhaps you can verify this sir, she has a rather large stuffed teddy bear in her room. She has been using it to hold the drugs as the back has been opened and the stuffing removed.'

Braidon could feel his temperature rising as he began to see red. Rounding on his daughter he caught her roughly by the shoulders. 'Is an of this true Erin? Have you been dealing drugs out of my house?' He shook her hard enough that she stumbled. 

'Daddy! She bit me! Just look, look at my neck! See?' she held up her hair to show him the side of her neck where the creature had bit her. He peered at her for a moment as though trying without success to dispell some kind of disbelief. A smirk of contempt began to form on her face. Perhaps this would all come right after all... 

'Are you high right now?' He demanded.

'What? Daddy, didn't you hear me? She bit me.'  The superior smile was wiped from her face as though it had never been. 

'Don't give me that bullshit. I want the truth and no more vampires and monsters. Are you high right now?'

'No, Daddy, you know I wouldn't do drugs and she...' The sickly crack of skin against skin brought the birds that had been roosting in a near by tree into motion. They squawked noisily at being startled and flew a short distance to another nesting site as Braidon Taylor held his stinging right hand to him and his daughter held her cheek, her eyes filling with tears of pain and confusion. 

'I won't have you lying to my face.' He said bringing himself up to his full height. I want you to go inside. You are not to go near you room. Jamison?' He turned toward the door.

'Yes, sir?' What must have been a  butler stepped out from behind the door as if by magic though he had probably been waiting there for some time in expectation of a summons. He was a squat man, well dressed, but the way he moved and the cut of his jacket suggested he was far stronger then he let on.

'I want you to take Erin to the study and stay with her there until I arrive. Under no circumstance is she to leave even if she begs, pleads, or offers you money. I don't think I need to tell you Jamison, this is a matter of your job on the line.'

'Yes, sir. Very good sir.' With that he took the young woman by the arm and began when walking toward the house when she turned, resisting his pull and began calling out to her father he brought one arm up and under her legs scooping her up over his shoulder and continued toward the front entrance. She kicked and screamed but he seemed to take no more notice to her then to the birds she had once again startled and walked stoically to the house like he was carrying little more then a rather heavy piece of his master's luggage after a long journey abroad. 

When the racket of the bleating girl had died away into the interior of the house Braidon turned to the young woman who had stood so quietly through this last little drama that he almost feared she had taken off and was all the more startled when he found her close at hand. 'I'm, I'm sorry you had to witness that. I assure you she will be dealt with appropriately and that measure will be taken to ensure that she never gets her hands on anything even resembling drugs again. His face twisted into a grimace as he said the next part. 'If there is anything we can do for you please do not hesitate to ask. We owe you a great debt for your...assistance tonight.'

'Sir, I did not help Erin in hopes of compensation for it. She is a nice girl and I would like to be able to get to know her better. I was just worried that this might be harmful to her. I am glad she is home and safe and now I must return home as my uncle will wish to know that she made it home okay and that I am no longer on the streets at this time of night.' Going back to her bike she swung one leg over the saddle before turning to him one more time. 'By the way Mr Taylor, you have a great taste in cars. The Phantom is a beautiful vehicle and this one is obviously well maintained.' With that she revved the engine and pealed out in a tight circle before heading back toward the front gates.

The rest of the week went smoothly. The little group of three was sometimes joined by Devan during their lunch breaks on the lawn, though Andre and Ballia were taking some time to warm up to him, and more often then not it was a quartet that entered the Electric Rose with a jingle of bells. It was on the second day after the incident in the hallway of the school (Andre had quietly pulled Ballia aside and told her the whole story and she was just as stunned and slightly more incredulous then he, that Lirren had turned the girl down.) and they were just entering the store when Andre noticed something peculiar. Sitting at the far end of the counter space was a something wrapped in what looked like a long black robe, complete with a cowl so deep it concealed it's owner's features utterly.  The being did not look up when they arrived but they seemed to have cut off a conversation in mid course as Lirren's uncle, Vincent stood up from his position leaning over the countered and turned to give his attention to the new comers. 'Ah, my niece and her favorite friends, velcome. Please, please, make yourselves comfortable. I vill be right vith you.' 

'Do not worry uncle. I can take care of them if you and Morgan need a moment. It's not every day that you get to see her after all.' Her tone was light as if she were teasing and it sparkled in her eyes mischievously.  

'Thank you Lirren, it iz much appreciated. I vill be in the back for a few moments but vill return as quickly as possible.' He bowed to the group in an old fashioned manner that was reminiscent of gallant courtiers and then escorted the darkly shrouded guest through the curtained entrance to the back of the store. Andre and Ballia exchanged a speaking glance and then the three of them sat down at the counter as Lirren lifted a section of counter and moved behind it.

'I expect that Andre and Ballia, you will want the Vampyre Twist and Devan, well, what would you like to try today?' Devan ordered a 'Slice of Nirvana' a drink that tasted of ancient temples and left one feeling particularly relaxed. While Lirren made up the orders the group talked about an english paper that had been assigned earlier in the day but the conversation seemed stilted as though no one could keep their mind completely on the topic. There were long lapses of silence and each time it was Lirren who picked up the topic and gave it a little boost to keep things moving. The last pause was brought the already lagging conversation to it's knees and dealt the death blow. Lirren finally set the drinks before them and the group drank in silence.  

A sudden noise from the back made all but Lirren jump. She stood calmly cleaning the counter where the newcomer had most recently sat with methodical little circles and did not so much as lift an eye brow as the pair returned from the back. This time Vincent held the hand of the other and all eyes latched on this first. It was a delicate looking hand but not so delicate as it was finely boned on closer inspection. The hand itself was pale as ivory and the long thin fingers tapered off in to long trim nails. 'Forgive me,' Vincent said in his stilted english, startling though group out of their daze. 'You must think poorly of me that I forgot my manners so easily. Let me introduce my fiance...Morgan. Morgan this is Devan, Ballia, and Andre and of course you know Lirren.' He nodded to each as he spoke and then turned to speak with Lirren quietly at the end of the counter.

At his words the the hand he held retracted itself from his grasp and reached up to fold back the hood. The face was of similar quality to the hand. Delicate pixie like features were offset by sharp watchful chocolate brown eyes. A head of rioting curls must have reached far down her back if what could be seen of them was any indication. She gazed at the group looking each in the eye one at a time starting with Devan but it was upon Andre and Ballia that she lingered. Finally she opened her mouth. 'Trathnona, good evening.' Her voice was quiet but held authority the woman herself stood not an inch shorter than six foot for and for all her beauty if was clear she was not to be trifled with. Ballia and Andre lingered behind while Devan bounded up in an effort to meet the new arrival. 'I'm pleased to meet you Ms. Morgan. Any friend of Lirren's I hope I can count as a friend of mine.' She shook his proffered hand and he was only slightly surprised to find she had a stiff hand shake for all the delicacy of her hands and the undersides felt callused as though she used her hands often. Andre and Ballia moved as a unit to stand before the woman and after a moment where each side appeared to measure the other, they finally shook hands though it appeared even to a casual observer to be a stiff and awkward motion.

The greetings out of the way the new comer did not stay long. With the hood once again affixed in it's former position obscuring the features of her face she said a polite good-bye and was escorted out the back exit by a rather protective Vincente.  The group went their separate ways soon after, Devan leaving first with a rather sheepish comment about having not quite gotten around to starting a paper that was due at the end of the week. Andre and Ballia left together as usual and the only change from the usual departing commentary was that as Andre held the door to allow Ballia to pass him she turned and announced that she would be coming with him to pick Lirren up in the morning. If this in any way surprised the girl it didn't show on her face as she merely smiled and gave a slight nod before returning to stocking purple and blue swirled muffins to the pastry shelves. 

As the two walked home they were silent for a time although this was nothing unusual. What few people knew was that the two lived in the same apartment complex and so walking home truly meant they'd be going together but usually Ballia walked briskly along a good five paces in front of Andre who politely allowed her to ignore his existence. Today however Ballia slowed her pace forcing Andre to catch up with her. 'You know she isss like usss.'

'Yes, I suspected as much when I first saw her. I was sure when we shook hands though. She didn't try to hide it which could mean that she doesn't wish us to perceive her as a threat or else that she doesn't see us as one.' He said this thoughtfully, head down as they passed a couple on the sidewalk. Anyone who knew him even slightly would have suspected something was wrong hearing him speak or noticing his odd demeanor but Ballia didn't appear to notice. She walked stiffly beside him, hands clenched, as though angry about something. She too did not make eye contact with the couple coming toward them who attempted a smile the faltered and died as the dark haired pair looked everywhere but at them and hurried past. 

'What are we going to do about thisss new twisst?' she asked finally looking over at the young man walking soberly beside her. He returned her glance and seemed unfazed by the fact that her pupils were once again cat like slits.  She in return appeared oblivious to the lengthened canines sticking out on either side of his mouth or the darkening of his eyes giving them a rather chilling effect. 

'I don't see that we need to do anything. She could very easily have made things difficult for us and we both know she knew it. But the point is she didn't. I think what the more important question is is what are we going to do about the fact that Lirren most likely knows more than we thought at first. It's possible this Morgan is keeping them in the dark but that seems somewhat unlikely coupled with the effects of that drink and the way Lirren and her uncle differ from most humans.'

Ballia hissed. 'I didn't even think to check she wasss drinking. It could have given ussss an idea of what kind we should be looking for.'

Andre patted her on the shoulder and for once she didn't shrug him off. 'Don't worry too much about it. I didn't either and we both know of the two of us I have the keener sense of smell.' He laughed then a barking deep baritone sound that rumbled deep in his chest but also alleviated some of the tension that swirled around them like an almost tangible aura around them. 'Look, let's observe a little bit longer and see if she doesn't decide to reveal herself on her own.'

'I don't like it...but you might be right. This one time.' She added hastily before speeding up her pace. That was the end of their conversation and they walked the rest of the way home in silence like strangers. 

  Erin Taylor was still fuming. It had been two days and she was still mad that a little upstart from some back water country would have the gall to turn her down. Who did she think she was? Nobody. That was who. And to make matters worse it had been in front of her followers. She had been forced to do major image repair after that. What chafed the worst however was that not only did the girl have something on her but that she'd been right and knew it. As often as she'd used the threat of her father's social standing to bring another to heal she had begun to believe that she too had that power. To hear a nobody throw it back in her face like that was humiliating and she would get back at her for it. 

She was walking home late that night, having done to her boyfriend's house on the sly while she knew her father was busy on a late business meeting. She was glaring at the graceful lettering of the new cafe that she was now forced to pass on foot as she couldn't very well call her chauffeur to pick her up from a place she wasn't even supposed to be. She was just turning her head when movement in the alley beside the Electric Rose caught her eye. She couldn't make out what it was but something made her scurry across the street and out of sight of the occupants of the alley. Peaking around the corner she was shocked to see her rival and a stranger standing in what looked to be a rather intimate embrace. It took her a moment to realize that there was something wrong with the picture she was seeing. Instead of Lirren being pressed against the wall it was the man and it finally dawned on her that the stranger's arms hung limply at his sides. In fact the whole thing rather surreal right up until the young woman lifted her face from her partner's neck. Blood made a thin ribbon down from the corner of her lip to her chin. The perfect ruby lips pulled back enough to show clearly defined canines  before the dainty tongue darted out and lapped up the blood dribbling down her face.

Erin gasped involuntarily and Lirren's now darkened eyes flashed up looking for the source of the sound. She pulled back around the corner covering her mouth to keep the scream that was strangling her muffled and then turned and fled. It was a near mindless burst of speed and it took several blocks before she slowed her pace enough to realize she was most likely safe enough from any pursuer. Still she looked behind her cautiously to make sure she had not been followed. Seeing no one she allowed her shoulders to slump and her ragged breathing to come out in pants. It took several long moments before her breathing returned to normal and she began walking again. The mind numbing fear was finally fading and the wheels in her head were already turning with what to do with the information of what she had seen. Then a sly smile began to creep across her face. Rubbing her hands together in a fashion all to reminiscent of her father getting ready to pounce on a tiny company she began to plan as she entered the gates onto her family's property.

The day of the big event opened to dark clouds and a threat of rain that made good on itself by opening up a deluge just before the lunch hour. This, while not enough to keep this die hard group of friends off the lawn under usual circumstances, was accompanied by close range lightening and intermittent jags of hail. The higher powers of the school deemed this to be inclement enough weather to have any and all outdoor activities curtailed for the rest of the day. This left Andre, Ballia, and Lirren seated in blue formica chairs around a small circular table with the word Drever carved into the edge nearest Lirren's right arm. They were discussing the finer points of what needed to be done to get everything set up for the night along with little bursts of a side topic that had come up in English when Andre had first noticed an odd discolouration of the skin peaking out just below the edge of Lirren's left cuff. She had quietly explained that it was a traditional tattoo that had been done when she was a child and had seemed prepared to leave it at that. Andre's inquisitive nature could not, however, allow the subject to rest until he was allowed to see the aforementioned marking and was slowly picking away at her resolve like some old form of Chinese water torture. She had yet to relent but he was confident in his skills. His newest attempt at wheedling was cut short however by the arrival of Devan who brought with him his customary school lunch tray...and an uninvited visitor. Erin Taylor was simpering at his side making coy little batting motions with her eye lids that were completely lost on him as he made his customary greetings to Lirren and the rest of the group. Her smile faltered slightly but then came back full force as she leaned forward to clutch at his arm trying to look intense or clingy. 'Oh Devan, I didn't know you were planning to perform tonight. If I had known sooner I might have signed up to do something myself.' 

'Oh, it's an open mic sort of thing, didn't you know? Sign up's at the door,' he said blithely before turning his attention to Lirren. 'So, do you need help with set up or anything? I can come in early if it would help at all.'

Erin stood mouth open for a moment then stalked away. 'Hahaha! I don't think I've seen anyone other than Lirren dismiss her so completely,' Ballia crowed. 'And did you se the look on her face? You had better watch you back Dev, she's got your number.'

Devan looked at her blankly. 'Nevermind.' She rolled her eyes before picking up a bread roll off her tray and taking a bite. The smirk didn't quite leave her face however. 

The rest of lunch went without mishap. The group sans Devan, who had realized he had to run and pick his guitar up from home, would be going with Lirren to the cafe. Andre had already volunteered to man the sound systems and Ballia had deigned to take  on the position of light board operator. Both had been helping with setup for the last several days. Ballia, who was surprisingly handy with power tools had helped Vincent rack and mount the last panel of lights. Andre had kept himself busy behind a sound board connecting and disconnecting a multitude of coloured wires that now criss-crossed along the back of the stage. All things considered, the small electrical fire that had ensued had been minimal and the look of Andre after being blasted along with the fire as Lirren took aim with the fire extinguisher had been rather comical. The old man jokes had yet to quite die down.

The group arrived at the cafe in time to see the dark clad Morgan taking her leave. She nodded to them in passing and continued on her way. She had promised earlier in the week that she would try and make it to the tail end of the show. Lirren had smiled at this as though she knew something more than the rest but if she did she had made no reference to it. Since the two would be stuck with them so late they had been invited and accepted an invitation to spend the night. As things were so busy dinner would have to wait until after the show but Lirren made sure they were always kept in full supply of Vampyre Twists and Singe. They had been introduced to the Singe when Andre had finally found a way to check what Morgan was drinking. The warm drink that looked like a dark fruit tea but when carefully sniffed it smelled similar to the cold Twist. On interrogation of Lirren they found the reason was that the ingredients were indeed similar. She explained that Singe meant blood in her home language and it was named this way because of it's colour and as it was made to be a companion drink to it's cold double. It turned out that each chilled drink had a second heated drink that people could order so that the cafe was indeed an all season shop. It also brought more questions about the ever elusive Morgan. Ballia was all for cornering her and forcing her to reveal herself for what she truly was. Andre had just barely managed to convince her to leave it be a little longer.

At seven o'clock people began to trickle in. Some bought smoothies while others opted for the more traditional looking tea drinks and bottled fruit flavored sodas. Devan showed up with a sheepish grin and a rather beat up looking guitar case with a half finished stencil of a harlequin on the left hand corner. He was instantly mobbed by the school's most fashionable and led off in the direction of the back before he had a chance to even say hello or do little more than wave. Erin showed off with what might have passed for a pleasant smile had there not been a tell tale sparkle in her eye that let anyone who had ever had the misfortune of getting on her bad side know something was up. Lirren appeared unconcerned by the arrival of the girl who had only days earlier declared her intent to get revenge. She continued to smile kindly to each new guest and take their orders. She mingled among the tables in the front of the shop distributing samplers, delivering drinks, and letting people know that the show would be held in the back starting in about ten minutes but they were welcome to converse here if they wished. At the appointed time what might have been three quarters of the student bodied pushed, shoved, and generally crammed themselves into the surprisingly large space of the back room. The list had filled quickly. Amateur comedians, choir girls turned diva, a school jazz quartet looking to find a new venue, and even a ventriloquist had scrawled their names across the sign up board that now stood at the corner of the stage. Devan was near the end of the list and was nowhere in sight as the first act, an improv group made up of a young woman with bouncy curls and an impish smile and an awkward looking youth who stood a good four inches shorter than the girl but whose feet might have made up for the missing height. A gangly young man with a loud booming voice and an obvious knack for feeding his partners a line to that led to their downfall finished off the trio. There was general laughter at their antics and they hopped off the stage to a round of applause that left them all beaming. 

Next up was a quiet mousy looking girl that no one could quite remember the name of or where they knew her from other than that they all knew that she went to school with them and that she was quiet and easy to ignore. There would be no more of that after she belted out the lines to 'I Will Survive' in a beautiful, clear alto. Cheering and stamping followed this act much to the great embarrassment  (and secret pleasure) of the the singer. The jazz group followed her and a duet was close behind. The night was going smoothly with the exception of the ventriloquist's dummy losing it's head forcing the owner to scrabble about on all fours through the rows of folding chairs searching for it. When finally located the daring duo made a quick crack about losing one's head before taking their final bows. Finally Devan was up. A general murmur started up from the crowd as he made his way on stage to a stool that had been placed their for his use. He carried cradled in his arms a worn looking black guitar whose once glossy paint job had seen better days. He sat down quietly and a hush fell over the crowd. The first chords of the song brought everyone to the edge of their seat. It took but a moment for several to recognize the introduction to the song 'Be Like That' a song written by the American band 3 Doors Down. His voice, a rich if slightly reedy tenor did justice to the feeling of the song. Though he tripped up once or twice in his playing the crowd cheered uproariously when he finally looked up at the end of the song. No one seemed to notice that his eyes immediately went to the far corner where Lirren leaned against the wall, arms crossed smiling.

Vincent walked up as Devan stepped off the edge of the stage. 'I vould like to thank all of you for making zis night the great success that it has been. On that note I have a special treat for you. Vile the the general show itself iz over and you are velcome to mingle in zhe next room or take your leave of us, I vould like to offer you the chance to hear one more performance tonight. She is rather talented in my opinion but I vill let you be the judge of that.' With that he made a bow to the general assembly and as his arm fell the lights dimmed to utter blackness. The buzz that had been going through the crowd fell silent leaving a moment pregnant with expectation.

Then they heard it, quiet at first then growing louder came a voice that brought everyone to attention. No one spoke, many barely breathed for fear of even the tiniest sound getting in the way of their ability hear every note. The words were in no language they could recognize but the sultry voice caressed each before sending it winging out into their midst. It stroked the emotions and stirred the soul and as the singer came to full volume a single spot light flashed on revealing the source of the angelic voice. Standing in a puddle of pale golden light singing without the help of a microphone stood Lirren. The gasps that came to several tongues was suppressed however as she continued to warble like a nightingale. After what might have been hours or merely seconds the song came to a close much as it had started fading in to silence.

For just a moment no one spoke, no one even moved and then, just as suddenly everyone was on their feet cheering, clapping, whistling. She smiled graciously before taking a bow and making her way backstage. When she came out she was mobbed by a crowd that wanted to know where she had learned to sing like that, what did the song mean, and would she be singing again soon. She answered questions in her usual melodic accent, never raising her voice for all the tumult around her. She was just moving toward the front room in case some last minute orders needed to be placed when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned to find one of the girls who had followed Erin Taylor the day she had been given 'the offer' standing in front of her. 'May I help you?' she asked politely.

'Um, well, um, Ba...Ballia told me that she wasn't feeling so well and had to step out to get some fresh air for a moment and well, she hasn't come back yet and it's been awhile and I'm just wondering if maybe someone should go check on her.' The girl looked nervous, twisting her hands together. 

'She went out back did she? How odd, and here I thought I saw her heading for the front,' Lirren murmured serenely seeming unconcerned by this new development.

'Oh, well, maybe she changed her mind after you saw her and decided to go outside. She didn't look so good. You guys are close friends right? Shouldn't you go see if she's okay?' The girl looked less and less sure of herself as the conversation progressed and a thin line of perspiration had become apparent on her brow. Lirren merely smiled.

'Of course, if you are concerned that she is not well I can do no other than go and check on her. We would not want something to happen just because I did not listen to your kind concern, Gina.' The girl started when she heard her name on the other's lips and mumbled something unintelligible before stumbling off in the general direction of the front of the shop. Only then did Lirren's smile curl back becoming something of an entirely different nature. 

Promptly at six thirty the next morning the door to the café opened with a jingle to admit Andre. He was as exuberant as the day before making Lirren smile at his happy chatter and excitement when she offered to make up a mug of tea for him as well for their trip to school. It was chilly outside for all that the leaves had only just begun to change their colours to jeweled tones of red and gold. He happily accepted the warm drink and they headed off in the direction of school after she picked up a sheaf of papers that her uncle handed her.

            ‘So, are you going to tell me what those are for?’ Andre said in his normal straight-forward way, uncaring that it might come off as slightly nosy.

            ‘They’re fliers I’m to post around the school and hand out to a few local stores to announce the grand opening of the Electric Rose and that we are having a talent contest to celebrate the opening. Anyone’s welcome to come and the prize is a free gift card good for free drinks a the Rose for a year.’

            ‘Wow! That’ll be so cool. I’m definitely going to come although I think I’ll leave the singing to people with real talent. I’m told I sound like a howling dog when I try to sing along with the radio.’ He smiled wide whole hearted grin that said he didn’t care in the least what others thought of his off keyed singing. ‘Hey! I can help put those up too and I know a couple of guys in school who work at local places that would be willing to put those up for you. Give me a handful. I promise I’ll be a great help in getting the word out.’

            ‘Thank you Andre. You are a great friend. I assure you my uncle and I appreciate this very much.’

            ‘No problem,’ he said, taking a stack of the fliers from her, ‘if I can continue talking you into giving me more of this tea I’ll consider myself more than thanked.’

            ‘It is a deal then.’

            The day itself seemed to drag out for Andre. He couldn’t wait for it to end so he could help Lirren put up posters. He loved nothing more than to be helpful and if it meant free food so much the better. Finally the last bell sounded and he bounded out of the classroom ahead of his classmates and made it to the bank of lockers well before it was even reasonable to expect that Lirren, who had to walk from the far end of the building and two flights up, would be there. As he waited he fiddled with a broken keychain he had found in the hallway earlier that day that looked like a little bat. At one point a small lever on the underside of the creature would have made it flap it’s miniature wings and made turned on red lights behind it’s glass eye sockets. Now one wing hung off kilter from the other and the battery appeared to be dead. Having seen it lying forlornly in the hallway he had swooped in and rescued it from and oncoming size 11 sneaker and had a general idea of taking it home and nursing it back to health.

            ‘The little liliac has broken it’s wing. Now it cannot fly.’ The voice coming from beside him made him jump. He had not heard her coming and even in a noisy hallway he had never had anyone sneak up on him before. He prided himself on his excellent sense of hearing but more troubling, he had not even sensed her coming. Lirren stood beside him, book bag over one shoulder looking down at the little toy creature.

            ‘Um, ahem,’ he cleared his throat trying to keep the shock from showing on his face. ‘Liliac? What does that mean.’

            ‘Oh, I am sorry. I tend to lapse into my native tongue when I am not thinking. A liliac is a bat. That is what it is supposed to be, no? May I see it for a moment?’ She smiled at him with her gentle eyes and slowly took the key chain from him. Turning away she opened her locker and dug a round for a moment. He couldn’t see what she was doing because the locker door blocked his view and so he was all the more stunned when she turned around and handed him the bat, it’s wing now fixed, flapping happily on itself delicate silver chain. The little red eyes, as he had guessed, flashed on and off happily and the gears inside it made it sound as if it were making a little chirping noise. ‘I would say it is happy you rescued it wouldn’t you?’

            ‘How…how did you do that?’ He asked looking in bewilderment at the little creature in his hand.

            ‘My uncle is always breaking his glasses so I carry a set of miniature screw drivers with me most of the time. You can never guess when you will suddenly need one. And the battery turned out just to have come loose, I pushed it back in and…how you say…waa..laa.’

            He looked from her smiling face back to the bat still happily fluttering around in the palm of his hand and then a thought struck him. ‘The owner will probably want this back. I should go look for them. Or put up a sign, or…’

            Lirren stopped him with a finger to his lips. ‘I saw you rescue the little fellow as I was coming down the stairs a moment ago. Any owner who would throw something away just because it has been injured is not worthy of such a name. No, you will keep this little friend because you will take much better care of it won’t you?’ With this she closed his hand over the toy and looked up at him expectantly.

            ‘Um, yeah, yeah, thanks for fixing him. I had this idea of somehow getting him fixed up but to be quite honest I had no idea how I’d do it. Here, I’ll hang him on this upper zipper so he doesn’t get harmed if I drop my backpack but so that he can be with me whenever I go out!’ With that he hooked the loop of the key chain to a pocket up high on the backpack that gave the miniature mammal a place it could happily flap and still remain safe. ‘So, we have to get these fliers up right? Why don’t you take first and second floor and all girls restrooms and I’ll take third and fourth and grab the guys bathrooms on the way up. How does that sound?’

            ‘That sounds wonderful. Thank you for all of your help Andre.’

            ‘Hey, wouldn’t be a friend if I didn’t offer to help now would I?’ With that he headed for the stairs never noticing the little bemused smile she sent him as she watched him trot away.

            Lirren had finished posting the fliers on the second floor and was making her way down the hallway of the first when they stopped her. The group of girls had fanned out around her making a loose semi-circle. Looking up with a welcoming smile, she found no such look returned. The women’s expressions ran the gambit between petulant and bored, aggressive, and trying to look so. ‘May I help you in some way?’ Lirren asked in her normal lilting voice.

            The young woman with the acid tongue from her math class the day before separated herself from the crowd. ‘You’re new here so I’ll let that little comment from before go since you didn’t know better. In fact, I’m feeling really generous today. I’m willing to allow you this once in a lifetime chance to become my newest friend. I can open doors for you here. All you have to do is ditch those losers.’ She sneered as she said the last part as though even the thought of them put a bad taste is her throat.

            ‘I am sorry, you used some words that are difficult for me to understand. Let me make sure I have got this straight. You will forgive me for what I said to you in class yesterday and deign to be my friend and all I need to do is stop being friends with Andre and Ballia. Do I have that correct?’ 

Andre was coming down the stairs having run full kilter along the halls of the third and fourth floor plastering fliers on every possible surface. If people didn't know about the event by the end of tomorrow they'd have to be blind or illiterate. He had been bounding down the stairs taking them two and three at a time when he heard the ultimatum which brought him to a skittering halt. Erin was not the most popular girl in school without reason. She was conniving and self centered and would use any means at her disposal to get what she wanted. If she couldn't humility this new girl into submission she'd going by the old saying of 'if you can't beat 'em join 'em.' She'd take Lirren into her circle and then Romanian would owe her for the rest of her life. She'd be afforded no opinion, no thoughts, and no actions outside what Erin dictated. He sighed and then mentally rebuked himself for allowing himself to have become so attached to the girl so fast. He knew what the outcome would be. She'd be so flattered that she'd accept immediately and without thought. He turned to make his way up the stairs. He wouldn't be so cruel as to force her to denounce him in front of the whole group of girls. From what he knew of her during their brief acquaintance she was not the type who would want to make this a public affair. Still, he couldn't help himself from waiting to hear her response however much it would hurt in the long run so he turned back and waited with baited breath.

Erin's sweet and innocent smile could have melted faces and killed house plants at a hundred paces as she nodded in agreement to Lirren's analysis of the situations and  then she toowaited along expectantly for the already guessed response.  

'Well, then, I am sorry that you had to waste your time to give me this offer but I find I am not so interested in the type of opportunities you could afford me.'

'Great! Then....wait, did you just turn down my offer?' Erin asked, her snooty attitude for the moment lost in the shock that anyone wouldn't fall over their own feet to want to be with her. 

'Yes, I believe that I am.'  Lirren said smoothly her friendly smile still affixed to her face as though they were speaking of nothing so unpleasant as the politics of society. 

'Do you even know who you're messing with?' Erin screeched, her cool completely lost in the face of this upstart who dared reject her.

'It does not so much matter who you are does it? You want me to know who your father is do you not? Because it is his name that matters in the long run. You're father Mr. Anthony Taylor is the CEO of the Multiplex Corporation and you want me to know that you will use his influence in the community to make my life difficult for the rest of my days, no? Since really, you have no power of your own. You do not try to better yourself or take on interest in the company. Your own father has already began to make plans to turn the group over to a board when he retires because he knows you have no aptitude for business. You come to school merely to gain more leverage on people. You will spend the rest of your unnatural life living off people like the parasites we will are looking at in science this week. You have no talents and are in reality quite boring but people fear you because they fear your father and believe you could sway him but let us not lie to ourselves, he rarely if ever is home I imagine and even if he was you do not have his ear. The only things you go to him for are money and presents. Perhaps you have used his name to crush other but I wonder if he would be interested to know about your little habit behind the home economics building at lunch everyday? I suppose he would not take my word over yours except...well...if these pictures were to accidentally be developed...well...' She held up her cell phone and the girls all crowded in to see what was on the tiny screen.

Suddenly Erin backed up with a shriek. In her sudden violent movement she knocked into the girls behind her starting a chain effect that left two girls in the back that had been leaning over their neighbors for a better view, on the floor in a jumbled mass of limbs and book bags. 'How did you get that?! Give it to me!' She made a snatch for it but the cell phone was already safely tucked away in Lirren's book bag and out of sight of prying eyes. 'Fine, you might have won for now but you'd better watch you're back because someday you're going to make a mistake and I'll be there just waiting. Then you'll be sorry for ever crossing me! Mark my words.' With that she stalked off in the opposite direction, elbowing girls to slow to get out of her path as she went.  

  The other girls began to drift off now that the entertainment and their  leader had disappeared. When they had all passed out of hearing range Lirren turned to the corner where Andre was hidden. 'You can come out of hiding now.' she said with only a hint of humor in her voice.

Andre quickly came around the corner flushing brightly. 'How did you know I was there?' he asked. He'd been sure he'd been careful to keep quiet.

'You are not difficult to locate not to mention left shoe squeaks slightly.' As if to prove her point his shoe made a noise not unlike a mouse trapped in a shoe box when he shifted on the balls of his feet. His smile widened into it's natural lopsided joyous expression. 'So, you turned down Erin...for us. But, I don't understand. How could you turn down a chance like that? And the chances you're taking, you don't want to cross someone like her.'

'I do not choose my friends based on the prestige they can give me nor the social standing they offer. You and Ballia, and Devan were the only ones who tried to get to know me for who I am and not what I can do for you. In my book, that is the most important trait of all.'

Andre blushed again and mumbled something that sounded like 'gee thanks' and then grabbed a stack of fliers from her hands. 'Come on! Let's get done and then we can go back and have smoothies!' His joy was infectious and Lirren smiled happily as she trailed him down the hallway, straightening posters and insisting that no, it would not help matters if he were to paste fliers to the ceiling. Finally with all the fliers posted and their bags collected they headed out the main doors of the school.

The final class of the day saw them split up. Lirren apparently had self-taught language class where she was learning Gaelic. Ballia had a jewelry class with the art teacher and Andre had weight training. As soon as the final bell of the day sounded however they found themselves back at Lirren’s new locker as she neatly stacked books on a shelf and placed notes in a mail carrier style backpack. They walked along with Andre filling in most of the conversation with his enthusiastic chatter. And before they knew it they stood before a quaint little shop front. The building itself was a two story brick and mortar structure with a gargoyle hanging down from both corners. What should have been a whimsical awning except for it’s colouring (black and red stripes) hung over the doorway and above this a sign proclaimed the café to be The Electric Rose. A bethorned vine wove it’s way through the gold lettering to end in a blue rose on either end that seemed almost to have little jets of electricity running across it’s petals.

            ‘I love the sign,’ murmured Ballia, impressed despite her best intentions not to be.

            ‘Come on, come on, come on! Let’s go inside!’ Insisted Andre, dragging the two girls behind him.

            Once inside they surprised to find the theme outside was replicated inside if not doubled. The room consisted of a bar to the right as a customer entered with booths on the left and round tables filling in the extra space in between. But it was what was on the tables that made for the stunning effect. Black lace table cloths hung like so much spider’s silk while a bowl in the center of each contained what looked suspiciously like midnight blue roses. On the wall behind the bar were sets of antique looking china and what on first glance looked to be bottles of old alcohol. On closer inspection they turned out to be merely ornate bottles containing, from the sounds of them, mixes for smoothies and flavored drinks. One in particular stood out looking as though it contained human blood, it’s label proclaimed it to be a ‘Vampyre Twist.’  Another that contained a liquid so blue it rivaled the colors of the Caribbean Sea was entitled ‘Blended Mermaid’. Still a third that seemed to swirl between golds and browns bore the text ‘Ordered Kaos’.

            A crash from behind the far wall had Lirren gliding towards a small unmarked door. The other two followed curious as to what had made the noise and were very much surprised to find a man sitting up next to a toppled over ladder on what looked like a half finished stage. Lirren ran up to the man and put her hand out to help him up. ‘Uncle, are you alright?’ she asked. There was no mistaking that concern in her voice but she also sounded somewhat formal and stiff. The man grasped her hand and even though he was much bigger in comparison with Lirren she was surprisingly able to pull him to his feet with what looked to be little effort on her part. They exchanged a glance before she turned back to her guests who still stood in the doorway.

            Uncle Vincente, I would like you to meet my new friends Andre and Ballia. They accompanied me home in hopes of seeing our new shop. I hope this meets with your approval.’

            ‘Of course Lirren. Any friend of yours is velcome here.’ His voice carried a strong accent though one hard to place. He shook Andre’s hand firmly enough but his hand was icy cold he noted. Ballia, expecting a hand shake found her hand being lifted as he bowed over it and placed a light kiss over the ridges of her knuckles. ‘Please, make yourselves comfortable. I vill see that some tea is started if you vill but keep an eye on zhe store for a moment.’ With that he bowed a final time and then disappeared up a flight of stairs to his left.

            As soon as he was out of hearing Ballia turned to Lirren. ‘Well, meow, that guy is hot. How old did you say he was?’ She asked while playfully batting the air with her hand and raising a perfectly arched brow.

            ‘I do not believe that I did but he is actually much older than he first appears.’ Lirren said with a secretive little smile.

Ballia opened her mouth to continue the interrogation but was cut short when a small bell sounded from the front of the café. ‘If you will excuse my rudeness for a moment, I must see to this customer.’ With that she made her way silently toward the front.

Coming up behind the counter she had a fair view of him before he had even knew there was another in the room. The large glass display cases blocked his view at that angle but made it easy for her to see him. It might have been that which caused him to jump when she suddenly seemed to appear in front of him with a quiet accented murmur of ‘good afternoon.’ It could also have been that even though it was a tiled floor and she was wearing shoes she had made no noise to give away her location. Not a tapping of heals or swishing of garments. Of course, it might also have been that moment when the light from one of the overhead fixtures hit her eyes just at the right angle and they seemed to glow.

            ‘Oh, um, wow, sorry. Didn’t see you there. Wait…you’re that new girl from class…Lirren isn’t it?’

            A smile lit her face. ‘I am delighted that you would remember me. Yes, I am Lirren, the new girl at your school. You are Devan, no?’

            ‘No…I mean yes! Yes, I’m Devan. How did you know. Oh wait, sorry. Don’t answer that. Mr. Dresden called on me by name in class for supposedly sleeping. Um, yeah, so, what’re you doing here?’

            ‘This is the shop I told the class about when I was introducing myself. My uncle and I run it together although he does most of the work as I am still in school.’

            ‘Wait, wow, this is your store? I mean, I’ve gone by this place almost everyday for the last two weeks hoping it would be open. The sign is wicked cool. Man, when you said your family owned a shop I thought hardware or sewing or something. I never would have guessed it was this place. You guys must have put a ton of work into it. I saw how it was before. Wasn’t it condemned at one point or something?’ He laughed nervously as he realized he’d begun to ramble; he ran his hand through his hair tousling it more than the wind had yet managed and tried to look a little less at stupid then he was feeling.

            ‘Yes, when we bought the property it was condemned but it was a beautiful old structure and we just could not let it go to waste. But I am sure it is not that interesting a story. Perhaps you would like to try one of our drinks while you are here? The first ten customers get their first beverage free of charge and you are officially our first customer.’

            ‘Really? Oh, man, that’s great! I mean, not that you haven’t gotten more customers yet but that…um…I’ll stop now. So, what would you recommend?’

            She smiled at him as though oblivious to his major foot in the mouth moment and cocked her head as though trying to make sense of something. ‘Well, it all depends on your tastes. We have the traditional drinks: tea, organic juices, flavored sodas, milk, fruit smoothies.’

            ‘What about those?’ Devan pointed to the blackboard containing the bizarre names.

            ‘Those are specially blended smoothies and milkshakes made by from a personal family recipe. They are quite good but not for the unadventurous.’

            ‘Then I’ll just have to be adventurous to make up points for taking up your time with my inane babbling. What is a Blended Mermaid?’

            She stood for a moment as if contemplating and then said, ‘I am not sure how to explain it to you. A Blended Mermaid in essence is a blue smoothie in several different layers and shades.’

            ‘So it’s like a blueberry smoothie? That’s cool.’

            ‘No, it does not taste like a blueberry smoothie although we can make one of those if you want it. I think the easiest way we will solve this problem is to do a sampler. I will make up several different types of these drinks and you may try them and pick the one you want.’

            ‘Won’t that be a huge waste of product and take up your time? I don’t want to make this a hassle for you.’ He said with a slight blush looking down at his shoes.

            ‘It is no trouble, if you like something you try you may come back or tell friends and if it is waste of product you are concerned with would you be willing to do your testing with a couple of others?’ She had seen Andre and Ballia come in a moment earlier and now nodded towards them.

            ‘Oh, hey, more people from school. Your, um, Andrew right?’

            ‘Actually it’s Andre but you were close.’ He said with a lop sided grin.

            ‘Oh, sorry man. Um, but no, yeah, come sit with me and we’ll try these drinks out.’

            Ballia looked a little peeved at the idea but they both sat down with him at the bar while Lirren began pulling down bottles and canisters. ‘I believe I will make a Blended Mermaid, an Amazon Emerald, and an Phantom Sunrise if you don’t mind my making the choice for you? Is there anything else you might like to try?’

            ‘What is the Vampyre Twist?’ Devan asked still not quite meeting her gaze.

            ‘I am not sure you would like it. It is something of an acquired taste and so is not usually a good seller.’

            ‘Well, if I’m going to start coming around here more often then I need to acquire a taste for it don’t I?’ He said finally looking at her and grinning.

            ‘As you wish.’ With a small smile she turned and began putting things into an abused looking blender. The other three made a preliminary try at conversation among themselves but finding it difficult if not nigh impossible they gave up on the context of the blender being too loud although in reality it was surprisingly quiet. When she was done Lirren turned with an ornate wooden tray covered in shot glasses in her hands. There were three rows of drinks each containing one azure blue drink with swirls of white that seemed almost to ripple, a deep green one whose center seemed almost black, a yellow one with jets of reds, oranges, and pinks through it but with a hint of something darker near the bottom, and finally a deep red drink that was while texturally it looked like the others it did not allow light through it as the others did. In fact it almost seemed to have swallowed the light around it, giving it a darkened appearance. The liquid itself was a deep rich crimson on closer inspection. Setting the tray down she placed a set of drinks before each of them. ‘Please enjoy.’ She said simply before stepping back still smiling.

            Ballia stared at the blue liquid before her dubiously as if she feared it might suddenly sprout legs and walk away while Andre tried without success to discretely sniff the contents without seeming to. Devan was the only one in fact to pick up the glass and take a sip without hesitation. The other two looked at him in expectation of his reaction. He sat quietly for a moment, swallowed, and turned to Lirren. ‘That was…I’m not even sure how to describe it. It was like swimming in the ocean with tropical fish except as a taste. It was like what I imagine surfing would taste. Wait, that makes no sense does it?’

            ‘It tastes like salt water?’ Ballia turned her nose up at that. Giving her own glass a little grimace.

            ‘No! It’s amazing. Try it. You’ll see what I mean.’ Andre and Ballia looked at each other for a moment and finally Andre shrugged. ‘Can’t kill us.’ He lifted his drink and poured the contents down his throat. Not to be out done by her rival Ballia grabbed her and hastily took a sip albeit more daintily. They both had a moment of stunned silence and then all three turned to Lirren as though for explanation. ‘What is in that drink?’ Ballia demanded.

            ‘Was it so bad?’ Lirren asked looking slightly concerned.

            ‘You know it was amazing otherwise you wouldn’t have served it to us. It was… like having fresh snow crab after a long day or basking in the sun on a warm day at the beach.’

            ‘Or like catching a frisbee out in the surf or swimming with dolphins!’ Andre chimed in.

            ‘Damn it! That doesn’t even sound reasonable. You can’t taste summer heat or the sensation of swimming,’ Ballia spat out. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized she’d finished the entire drink.

            ‘Do you not like these sensations?’ Lirren asked in her tranquil voice with that unplacable accent.

            ‘That isn’t the point. There is no such liquid that can make you taste sensations or visuals.’ Ballia protested.

            ‘And yet you watched me make the drink did you not? I did not put anything so strange into it did I?’ Lirren cocked her head to the side as if she were processing something. ‘If you do not wish to continue I can remove the rest of your glassware.’

            ‘No, no.’ Ballia said hastily putting her arm around the glasses as though to ward her off. ‘I just want to know what’s in there.’

            ‘It is like most other frozen beverages other than a few secret ingredients that I cannot share due to family secrets and keeping the café running. I think you will most like the red one however.’

            ‘I thought you said that one was an aquired taste,’ Devan said looking at the third glass that he now held in his hand.

            ‘It is, however I am generally a good reader of character and I feel that that drink would suit her a little better than the Blended Mermaid.’ She smiled secretively.

            Ballia picked up her own glass of ruby coloured liquid and having been last to try the drink before she decided to prove her resolve and lifted the glass to her lips. Within a matter of seconds of the liquid coming into contact with her tongue Ballia’ eyes dilated slightly and she looked away hastily. ‘Are you okay?’ Anubis asked in a tone of concern. He went to place his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off immediately and turned back to them.

            ‘I’m fine. You try it.’ She said in a slightly breathless voice.

            ‘Aren’t you going to tell us what it tastes like?’ he asked even as he picked up his drink.

            ‘Just trying it. You’ll see.’ Andre and Devan took their drinks at the same time. Devan politely tried not to grimace while Andre got a far off look to his eyes reminiscent of Ballia’ reaction moments earlier. Lirren stepped forward and pushed the yellow drink towards Devan.

            ‘Here, this will take away the taste and perhaps reignite your interest in continued patronage.’ As she said this Ballia stood up mumbling something about the bathroom and walked rather less smoothly than she had entered toward the back room. Andre followed a moment later saying he was just going to go check on her.

            As he entered the main room in the back where he and Ballia had first met Vincente he found Ballia sitting looking off into middle space on the edge of the half finished platform that Lirren’s uncle had been working on. ‘You felt it too then?’ he asked quietly coming to sit beside her.

            ‘How could I not?’ she snapped jumping to her feet and beginning to pace. ‘It tasted like blood when you sink your teeth into the carotid artery of the neck and begin to tear your prey’s throat out.’

            ‘It felt like the fresh blood of game after a long hunt to me but yes, it most definitely reminded me of blood,’ Andre said quietly, for once being completely serious.

            ‘She knows. She knows and she’s trying to make a point about it. She’s going to try and expose us or worse, this is her way of trying to blackmail us into silence. We’re going to have to kill her. There’s no other way.’

            ‘Wait, just wait. Let’s give this some time. Maybe it’s shear coincidence. I mean look at that other drink, the Shaken Mermaid.’

            ‘Blended Mermaid you dumb mutt. At least get the name right.’ She said as she continued to pace.

            ‘Blended Mermaid then and that’s not the point and you know it but the point IS that it also gave the Human a reaction. Perhaps she really is just very talented at what she does. Maybe it’s a drug or something that she’s slipping in there to give us those sensations but you and I both know that’s not going to harm us.’ He said soothingly. She turned around and hissed at him, showing long sharpened canines as her eyes dilated in a rather unnerving manner leaving her eyes for a moment looking as though she had diamond shaped pupils. He stared at her as if waiting and finally she calmed down.

            ‘Fine. We will trust the girl for the moment but at the ssslightest hint of betrayal and I will handle this myself. And remember thissss isss on your head. You have chosssen to protect her and now she isss your burden.’ With that she turned and headed back out to the main area of the café. Devan looked up as they approached but Lirren merely nodded at them and continued to wipe out the inside of a glass before returning it to the shelf behind her. As Andre took his seat he noticed that the yellow glass in front of Devan was empty. The boy smiled at him and held the glass up. ‘You have to try this. It’s like she somehow found a way to make liquid sunlight. It’s incredible!’

It should have felt like the start of another boring day of school at Greshen High, a private school for the elite located in the foothills of the Carpathian mountain range just outside of Romania. The students who attended this school were the elite of the elite, starlets’ children mingled and rubbed elbows with the offspring of Generals, Sheiks, politicians, and kings. There had been a fuss when a young man from America had transferred in a little over half a year ago but the buzz had died away as he had found his place among the masses. So nothing had happened that should have made the students whisper back and forth to each other between the aisles while the teachers’ backs were turned. That same nothing should not have caused the hushed conference in the teachers’ lounge and it certainly should not have unsettled the principle so much that he went to the front doors of the school without thought to make sure they were locked.

It was silly really, he thought to himself even as he moved mechanically almost as though under compulsion to do so. After all, he knew the doors were locked. He locked them each morning when the last bell rang to start classes. He had one of only two keys that would unlock it and the other was safely stowed away where no one else would think to look. So he shouldn’t have begun to sweat as he turned down the hallway leading to the doors. He reassured himself that the only reason he was fiddling with his collar was to make sure it was straight and not because he was nervous. Nervous about what he didn’t even want to know.

And so as he rounded the corner and came into view of the double doors in question he should have been more shocked to find them standing wide open allowing entrance to a wildly swirling fog that seemed from moment to moment to hold the faces of demons and creeping creatures. Even with that earlier feeling of dread and the odd images not withstanding he should have been all the more disturbed by the dark shadow that suddenly fell over top step leading to the entrance of the building and began to glide forward so quickly that he stepped back just as it would have touched him. He wouldn’t admit later that he screamed on the sudden appearance of the petite girl in the black satin woolen trench coat. In the future he would tell himself that the noise had come from a door squeaking down the hall even though all students were to be in class at that moment so there was no reason for a door to be opening.

            He wouldn’t remember either how she came to be walking beside him as he told her she would certainly find everything to her liking and that he didn’t know what had become of her paperwork but that he would see to it personally that new forms were filled out immediately. He wasn’t sure how he knew her name was Lirren or why he was being so kind as to lead her to her homeroom. He was not known for his kindness among the students. He was here only because he felt that being the principle of a private school would be a boost for his later career aspirations. He wanted to go into politics and knew that a strong stance on education would take him a long ways and it was this rather than actual interest in the school’s well being that had him here. So to say that his interest in this girl was odd would have been an understatement but he was something of an ostrich and if something didn’t fit with his set of beliefs or understanding of the world he simply ignored or hid from it. To make up for this moment and to realign his little world he gruffly told her not get into any trouble as he reached the door she needed and bruskly shoved her through the entry before slamming the door and leaving her to face her new teacher and classmates alone.

            Mr. Dresden was a short roly-poly sort of man with a horseshoe bald spot that often caught the light in such a glaring way that people in the front row made jokes about one day wearing sunglasses to protect their eyes. Even with this he was a kind man who had a preference towards math, which had led him to become a teacher in hopes of passing this spark of passion on to at least a few young minds. Despite his surprise at finding the door opened in the middle of his lecture on experimental limits and finding a young woman shoved through he was enough in control of himself that he was able to plaster a welcoming smile on his face as he turned to face her.

            The smile faltered and finally failed as he got his first good look at the girl. Strikingly beautiful it were her eyes that drew his attention first. She could not be more than eighteen years of age but her eyes were to old for her face, almost other-worldly as though they had seen too many things that they should not have. Those eyes, nearly black appeared almost as pools of midnight pulling him down into a world he was not sure he could ever return from. With a mental shake he pulled himself forcibly away from her eyes to make a more critical assessment. She wasn’t tall precisely but her petite figure gave her the height she did not truly possess. Her long hair worn down except for a black satin bow to keep her bangs out of her face was blood red and cascaded down her back like a length of silk. She wore the school’s uniform, which might have been odd to him had he thought about it, it being her first day of school in all, but then again he would no doubt have decided she had picked it during the past weekend and that would have been enough of an explanation for him. He would not have thought to wonder that he had not been told he was to have a new student. It would not have crossed his mind that there had been no word of her whatsoever before she had appeared in his room almost as if by magic just at this moment. He was a simple man and simple answers were good enough for him.

            Clearing his throat he tried to find his voice. ‘Um, may I help you miss?’ He asked almost falteringly.

            ‘I, I believe this is the right room. Principle Kesh told me that I was to have class here with a Mr. Dresden. Is that you sir?’ Her voice was beautiful making one think of a bubbling brook, or the wind through a stand of sugar maples.

            ‘Yes, yes. I mean, I AM Mr. Dresden. I didn’t realize we were getting a new student today is all. Please, um, introduce yourself to the class, tell them where your from while I find a seat for you and a text book. With that he turned and dashed off to the door leading to his office nearly crashing into his desk on the way.

            The new comer turned her attention to the students who had been strangely silent during this odd interview.

            ‘My name is Lirren. I am pleased to meet all of you and hope we can all become good friends. I have lived many places including five of the seven continents but I am originally from a small province in Romania.’

            ‘Great another Goth aspiring to be a vampire.’ Came the haughty retort from a blond girl in the front row. She was pretty but her eyes showed her vapid nature and a tendency towards cruelty.

            The midnight eyes turned their full gaze upon her and instantly she felt as though she was being stalked by some insurmountable evil. It took her a moment to realize the newcomer was once again speaking. ‘I do not know that I have met any vampires during my travels but I do know that in the places I was raised I was taught that one showed respect to one’s betters.’ She said it sweetly as if she were making small talk and it didn’t register at first that she been handed a set down from this red haired upstart until someone in  the back of the class shouted ‘Ooo. She got you good Erin. Point one to the new girl.’ Erin, turned intending to point her next acid filled remark at the speaker when Mr. Dresden returned mopping his brow with a graying handkerchief and carrying an abused looking text book bearing the title Introduction to Calculus under his other arm. He handed it to Lirren and then looked out at the class, unaware of the altercation that had just preceded his return.

            ‘Would any of you be so good as to be…what did you say your name was?’ He asked turning slightly to the girl beside him.

            ‘Lirren sir.’

            ‘Would anyone wish to be Lirren’s guide for the next couple of days? Show her around, make sure she gets to her classes on-time?’ He asked.

            ‘I will Mr. Dresden!’ A hyper looking boy in the third row was now standing waving his arm madly as though somehow the teacher wouldn’t see him if he did not put on such a display. He was tall with a shaggy black hair that stuck out making it seem almost as though he had canine like ears protruding from his head. He wore his uniform pants baggy and over the top of his button up shirt (open a few buttons which was not regulation) one could see a gold chain not unlike a collar around his neck bearing what looked like a green gem stone in the middle.

            ‘Mr. Nubis kindly sit down before all the blood rushes from you arm. If you want the job its yours but I will not have such wild behavior in my classroom.’ Even as he said it he was fighting a smile. Andre Nubis was an incredibly intelligent boy whose IQ placed him well within the range of a genius. His mind was like a sponge and his eagerness was more endearing than tedious. On the other hand he had a tendency to knock things over in his excitement and creating a ruckus right now would not do when the class was already in turmoil from the appearance of its newest member.

‘Lirren, if you could please take the seat over there to right of Derrek, Derrek raise your hand.’ At this an impeccably dressed young man with sandy brown hair braised his hand. He had a face that the teacher knew went over well with the ladies but the boy himself was something of a loner for all that he was popular. The now old new student, he had come to their class not more than two months ago when his high-ranking Naval father had been transferred.

            Everything went normally for the rest of the morning. Mr. Dresden was replaced by Ms. Marshem the literature teacher who was delighted to find a new student who was so well read. They were currently reading Il Principe by Machiavelli and the students were showing their usual lack of enthusiasm for a writer they felt was no longer ‘relevant.’ Lirren when called upon to giver her opinion about a passage had pointed out that it was more accurate then many idealist writers in that he placed a mirror to society and pointed out the flaws as well as the good. Machiavelli was not trying to portray a just or pure race but was saying that sometimes evil things can lead to good while a path that might seem just could lead to unspeakable evil. She referenced the fact that Einstein had worked on the first atomic bomb, that the French Revolutionists had destroyed one power source only to fall under another. She also pointed to the fact that while Americans held up Hitler when they spoke up evil but blatantly ignore their own bloody past with mass genocide of Native Americans and the enslavement of hundreds of thousands of Africans. This seemed to peak people’s interest and before the class ended a lively debate was going on about whether or not Machiavelli’s ideals were evil or just appeared immoral in the context in which they read it. There was actually a groan or two when the bell sounded to herald the lunch hour.

As soon as the bell rang Andre appeared by Lirren’s side.  ‘Hi Lirren! I’m Andre! But you already know that. You said you traveled a lot have you ever been to Egypt? I was born in Egypt. It’s a beautiful place. Did you bring lunch? We should go to the cafeteria.’ Even as he spoke he was dragging her towards the door.

            Lirren laughed liked a tinkling of merry little bells. ‘Yes, yes I have been to Egypt. It is a beautiful land, ancient, and very powerful. And I do not eat lunch but I would be delighted if you would allow me to sit with you while you eat.’

            ‘Well, if this isn’t a sight, the dim-witted dog has finally found someone who can tolerate him.’ A curvy young woman with slashing green eyes was coming towards them. Her uniform although designed like the rest was done entirely in blacks, golds, and greens while the normal uniform was blues and whites.

            Andre’s head had gone down like a dog knowing he would be kicked again and waiting for the worst. ‘Perhaps if you were to look deeper into people or perhaps just past the point of your own nose you would find people are actually quite interesting once you give them a chance.’ Lirren said, her voice betraying no anger but obvious censure stood out plainly on her face.

            The other girl looked her up and down for a moment and then did something completely unexpected. She burst out laughing. Her laughter was no sound of bells it was dark and rich, almost sensual. ‘Heheheh, you’re not like the other girls of this school. You choose your friends based on what’s inside? How naïve. And yet how utterly enchanting. My name is Ballia. Ballia S. Tett. And since we’re on the topic I’m also from Egypt just as the pooch is.’

            ‘It is a pleasure to meet you Ballia but you do realize he has a name don’t you? His name Andre. I would appreciate if you would use it around me if we are to be friends.’

            Ballia looked Andre up and down for a moment as though just noticing his existence. With something just short of a sneer she turned back to Lirren. ‘Andre then. Let us be off to lunch.’

            They ate lunch together on the lawn. Andre ate quickly bolting down large quantities of just about anything he could get his hands on while Ballia ate daintily at hunks of steak she had brought from home. Over the course of the meal they learned more about their newfound friend. Lirren lived with her uncle who was some kind of shop owner who moved from country to country opening his stores and when they were running successfully he turned them over to others to continue the work he had started as he and his niece moved on. She had lived most recently in Russia and before that Japan. She was a quiet girl if first impressions were to be relied upon. The little they gleaned from her was from direct question, which she would answer but offer up no further information. They found themselves talking more and more giving up their own histories in bits and pieces. Both Andre and Ballia lived alone as their parents traveled extensively. Ballia lived in a mansion on the far end of town while Andre lived in a small apartment. ‘I’m almost never there except to sleep,’ he admitted fidgeting. He seemed forever to be in motion. It was possible he was incapable of sitting still but more likely it was that he chose not to. ‘I spend as much time as I can outside near the fresh air. It’s invigorating.’

            ‘You would say that,’ sniped Ballia, checking her nails.

            ‘Now Ballia, please, we’re having a nice meal together,’ Lirren cajoled. ‘Tell me, what do you do with your free time?’ She sat gracefully on the lawn, the perfect picture of relaxation as she leaned back against the trunk of the maple tree that soared up above them.

            After lunch was history and they were delightfully surprised they were in the same class and more so when Mrs. Sundland seated Lirren between the two of them in the empty seat in back. This educator too found a worthy mind. She was well traveled and could give detailed information about many of the countries whose history they would be studying. When she spoke about the Bolsheviks and the death of the then Czar and his family it was almost as though she’d been there. During the class a folded slip of paper was slid onto her desk by Ballia.

So, what are you doing after school today?

            Lirren appeared to read it, thought for a moment and then wrote something down before sliding it back to the corner of her desk for pick-up. A few moments later the note was back.

            That sucks. Where do you work?

            She responded but just as she was going to put it back in the corner Andre swiped it. Ballia gave out a little hiss of annoyance. He read it with a little grin and then wrote something before passing it back. By the time Ballia got it back it read:

            So what are you doing after school?

            I have to work.

            That sucks. Where do you work?

            My uncle and I own a small café that just opened as I said at lunch. I work there part time.

            Oooo! We should go! You gotta let us see this place. I know! We’ll tag along after school.

            What’d’ya think Bas Ballia?

            While annoyed at the boy for making decisions for the both of them and for having little to no tact what so ever, she too wanted to see this new friend’s store so she agreed in the affirmative knowing full well it would force Lirren’s hand.