The Village Cafe

by Eraine Rivera

in the station. Everyone was looking at me wondering what happened. Quickly I went into everything that happened.

  “So our exchange of blood was not a bad thing then?”

  “No Eraina it wasn’t. Taking part of your light into me will subside the tremendous evil in me. From what I understand if I were pure evil than I would be no better than Ariana.” The others just stared at me as silence continued to fill the room. For once in their lives Mortakie and Helena had nothing to say about what was going on.

  LIGHT VS DARKNESS

  We all sat around in silence. Each person was contemplating some kind of scheme or mystery. I closed my eyes for a second to clear my head. Ariana’s face loomed before me. Her black hair and dark eyes shadowed most of her face. She smiled.

  “Come and join me. Together we shall rule the heavens and the earth and hell.” My eyes snapped open. Eraina turned to me and her eyes locked with mine.

  We must go. You and I can defeat her. I nodded and crept out of the station and met Eraina above ground.

  “All right. How do we find her?”

  “I am not too sure.” Eraina said as she started walking. I followed her looking around for anyone suspicious. We turned the corner and came face to face with Rick and Belinda.

  “What do you ladies think you are doing?” Rick asked with a smile. Eraina and I glanced at each other momentarily.

  “What ever you are up to we want to be part of it.” Belinda added as she took a drag of her cigarette. Eraina nodded and continued walking. I went to follow her but Rick pulled me back. He turned me to face him and looked deep into my eyes.

  “Devilynn. I am sorry that you had to become part of this. I just want you to know that I have always loved you and will continue to for all eternity.” Rick said as he pulled me to him and kissed me. I pulled away and taking his hand we ran to catch up to Belinda and Eraina. The four of us walked in silence lost in our own thoughts. There was so much for me to think about that I couldn’t keep anything straight. I wanted to pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. This wasn’t your ordinary everyday occurrence and it takes a toll on a person. We turned the corner and I stopped. Rick turned around and called after the other two.

  “What’s wrong Devilynn?” Belinda asked concerned.

  “I don’t know but I can’t seem to move for some strange reason.” I said crying out in pain as my body began to burn. Flames shot up around me encasing me in its infernal embrace, sophicating me before disappearing.

  “I know the trip here is quite awkward but I have a reputation to uphold.” Satan said as he roared with laughter.

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  “Unfinished business my dear offspring.” Satan said pointing to my left. I looked to see Athena standing there. She smiled and made her way over to me.

  “You have tasted the blood of four vampires and therefore have transformed into one. Of course part of you is a demon but not enough to become the next child of darkness.” Athena said taking hold of my hand and leading me toward Satan’s throne.

  “But I was born out of evil?”

  “Of course you were. However a half-breed becomes a vampire when there is an exchange of blood from another vampire. You will become a full demon when you exchange blood with one.” Satan said. I looked up at my father as the truth began to settle in. I was only 60% demon because I tasted the blood of vampires and they have tasted mine. The only way to balance it out would be to remove most of the vampiric blood and replace it with demonic blood, the blood of my father. Nodding I stepped up to the throne as Satan held out his arm for me. The hunger in me grew as my fangs came out and my eyes turned red. Athena took hold of my left arm and sank her fangs into my wrist. I cried out in pain before sinking my fangs into my father.

  The taste of his blood sent balls of fire shooting through my entire body. It was sour and full of evil, hate, deception and greed. After a few minutes of feasting Athena pulled away from my arm as I pulled away from Satan’s. I fell at his feet writhing in pain as the demon blood coursed through me. It shook my body and crushed my heart. A storm of bitter emotions battled with the bit of good that was left inside me. When the pain stopped I rose and looked at my father and mother standing side by side.

  “So what am I now?” I asked Athena.

  “Evil in it’s purest of form, aside from your father of course. You are more powerful then I ever was. You, my child, are now a demonic vampire.” Athena said smiling.

  “I thought I was one.”

  “What your mother means is that you are now 1% vampire. The rest of you is a demon. You have more evil within you then Ariana could ever hope to have. The balance will not be altered once she is destroyed. You have very little time left. Ariana must die.” Satan said as flames shot up around me once more sending me back to the street. Rick ran up to me.

  “Where did you go? You just disappeared.” Rick asked as he put his arm around me. I looked at all of them before locking eyes with Eraina. She nodded at me before turning around and continuing to walk. At the end of the block we turned the corner down to the alley where the vampire club was located. It was almost sunrise and we had about an hour to take care of business. I transformed into a demon and ripped the door open. The four of us stepped on to the empty dance floor. We made our way over to the bar. Eraina picked up one of the bar stools and tossed it at all the liquor bottles smashing them and the mirror behind it. Rick jumped over the counter and smashed every glass that was behind the bar.

  Belinda went over to the couches and started to claw at them. I went to the basement and trashed all the offices, ripping papers and smashing furniture. When the offices were completely annihilated I headed upstairs where Eraina was sitting by the bar writing a note.

  Bring us Ariana or we will return tomorrow night to finish the job. Rick took a knife and stabbed the note so it would stay on the counter. Eraina and Rick turned into shadows and left as Belinda turned into a wolf and ran. In my demonic form I flew up and smashed through the roof, concrete crashing to the dance floor. The four of us headed back to the subway and went underground. When we returned to the station the others looked at us.

  “Have you all lost your minds? Your actions are altering destiny. You cannot do this.” Helena said her voice raising a few octaves.

  “Eraina we fought our war, we cannot interfere with this one.” Mortakie added as he stepped up to her. Eraina’s eyes clouded over.

  “Yes we fought our war and won but I still have some battles to fight. I have battled with my feelings for you for centuries and now I have to fight this battle with Ariana. She must be stopped.” Eraina said.

  “I do not want to lose you Eraina. After all I went through to have you…the light inside me will die if you were to leave my side.” Mortakie said taking hold of her hand. Eraina just smiled before heading into an alcove to get some sleep. Mortakie followed her in silence. Helena went to another alcove. Belinda sat on the sofa next to Athena and lit a cigarette. Rick and I sat down on the couch across from them.

  “I know this is all strange for you and yet you handle it all so well. I was a mess when I found out the truth about who I was.”

  “Well mom, growing up in New York City does that to ya. I mean you see so much weird stuff everyday that nothing seems to surprise you anymore.” I said as Belinda and Rick laughed. Athena nodded and smiled as she lay back and closed her eyes. I sat up for sometime afraid to close my eyes because I might have another vision or nightmare.

 

  THE END

  There was something different about the air we breathed the next night as we all rose from our slumber. The elders were not at ease as different voices flooded their minds from the vampires at the club. It seemed that what we did last night caught their attention and they were willing to give up Ariana to save their miserable existences. Eraina smiled in delight as she looked at me but there was a pi
t of fear growing in my stomach. I wasn’t having second thoughts about what we had to do but at the cost of our future actions toward those we cared for.

  “You have got your wish. Tred carefully.” Helena warned before turning toward Mortakie and Leviticus. The three of them turned away and disappeared. Eraina turned to us.

  “It is time. You do not have to come if you do not wish to.”

  “I’m going with you Eraina.” I said.

  “Rick and I are going too.” Belinda added. Eraina nodded and the four of us left to go to the vampire club. We walked there in silence hoping that we were not walking into a trap. The club was quiet as thirty vampires waited by the bar for us. We entered slowly looking around. One of the vampires came forward.

  “We love who we are and we don’t want to worry about you guys trying to kill us. You want the bitch, you got her.” He said as he moved aside where Ariana was held by two other vampires, bound and gagged. They brought her forward and tossed her to the ground. I went to step forward but Eraina put out her hand to stop me.

  “I do not like the looks of this.” She whispered her eyes glowing red. The figure on the floor raised her head and hissed showing her fangs. The other vampires flew at us. Eraina and Rick disappeared. Belinda transformed into a wolf as several vampires attacked me. I fell to the floor as the vampires began