Chapter 5

Angelica…

I jumped and looked at the man smiling at me from outside the cab. Another man stood behind him, both had dark hair and dark eyes. The one was short and stocky, with eyes so dark brown they were nearly black. I quickly turned my attention to the man holding the door open; he was tall and lean, with longish hair that suited him. His eyes were nowhere near as dark, being more of a chocolate brown.

“Mornin’, Al,” said the cab driver.

My head whipped toward the driver. “You know him?”

“Sure do, Al’s my boss. If you don’t mind, I need to go. Al here will take care of you,” the cab driver said with a pleasant tone.

“What the hell is going on?” I snapped, looking back at the man holding the door, Al.

Al smiled like he wanted to laugh. “You’re a feisty half-breed. Don’t worry, I just want to talk. Please, join me for a cup or two. This place really does have good coffee, and excellent muffins.”

“Do I have a choice?” I asked, looking at the man behind Al again, then the cab driver.

“You always have a choice, but really it’s not like I’m inconveniencing you. I left a very important meeting to have coffee with you on your time.”

I took a deep breath and got out of the cab. “Fine, but I’m warning you, if you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

“I’m sure,” Al said with that same look like he wanted to laugh. He had no idea if he pushed me too far, I would catch fire again, whether I wanted to or not. We walked into the coffee shop and placed our orders, then Al led me to a table in the corner that I’d not even noticed.

“Okay, you wanted to talk, talk,” I said as I sipped my hot coffee.

“I’m just amazed that I’m actually sitting with a half Demon, half Valkyrie. It’s a mix I’ve never seen before.”

“And what are you?” I asked, trying to accept that I wasn’t coming out of my delusional world anytime soon.

He leaned forward. “You’d best start believing what you’re seeing and hearing. I don’t know how you could go your whole life without knowing what you are, but I’m here to educate you.”

I frowned. “What are you?” I repeated more sternly.

He regarded me for a moment. “I’m a Demon, but before you go off thinking the worst of me for it, remember that you’re a half Demon.”

I regarded him skeptically, deciding to play along like I wasn’t delusional. “Zander seems to think Demons are a bad thing.”

He gave a scoffing laugh. “What has Zander told you about the world of Myth? Or has he even told you anything?”

I frowned. “He’s told me enough.” Enough to make me want to run for the hills, beg for a straitjacket, and a handful of pills.

“Doubtful. Has he told you what he is?” Al asked.

I glanced at the other man sitting at a table directly next to us, then at the other tables in the restaurant, wondering why no one was looking at us strangely.

“They can’t hear you. I’ve got a spell up that keeps them from hearing or even seeing this corner; to them, there is a wall here. Zander is a Gargoyle.”

“I know. He told me that.” I frowned at my coffee, then looked up at him. “How did you know about me?” 

He smiled. “I’ve got my own little alarm system; I knew about you the moment you entered the city. The signal you set off was unbelievable, Dakyrie.”

“Dakyrie?” I asked.

“Demon-Valkyrie is a bit long to say every time,” he said with a shrug. I glanced at the other man again. “Don’t worry, Frankie won’t hurt you. In fact,” Al turned around and looked at Frankie, “put the word out that anyone who messes with the half-breed answers to the Boogieman.”

“The Boogieman?” I asked, confused.

“People are going to get confused, boss; word’s already out that they answer to The Sandman,” Frankie said even as he pulled out his phone and started texting.

“Please tell me the word actually says, ‘The Sandman’,” Al said with a vindictive smile.

Frankie shrugged. “It depends on who you ask. I’ve come across Zander, Mr. Stone, Sandman, and Gargoyle. Mostly The Sandman.”

“That’s priceless,” Al said.

I slapped the table. “Excuse me, what the hell are you talking about, The Boogieman and The Sandman?”

“We have our little street names. I embrace mine, while Zander, The Sandman, tends to hate his nickname,” Al explained. “Zander can make most breeds fall asleep, except for Demons.”

“And people call you The Boogieman why?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know the answer.

He leaned back and glanced at Frankie. “Because one of my talents is making people see their worst nightmare, like Frankie here.” Frankie’s head snapped up and his eyes got huge. “She needs an example,” Al said, and then Frankie was squirming in his chair, suddenly sweating. “Don’t worry, my talents don’t work on Valkyries.”

“Stop,” I said, grabbing his wrist. Suddenly I was pulled into my nightmare, Al standing with me as tornados dropped from dark clouds, and blue flames covered my body. What wasn’t being ripped apart by the tornados was burning as my fingertips grazed over them. Hail fell from the sky, lightning struck with every step I took. I watched myself, the one causing the destruction so cold, and yet it wasn’t me. My eyes were empty, I knew I was cold inside, just from the way I walked without emotion on my face, a body lying on the ground behind me, the ground cracking beneath my feet.

My eyes burned as though I’d been crying, the feeling of emptiness only outweighed by the need for revenge. Dark laughter filled the air and a male voice said, “You think you can take me on, little girl? I’ll leave your body broken and bloody next to that of your precious loved ones.” More laughter filled the air, rage flared alongside pain inside me, my flames growing taller and I gritted out, “Not before I remove your heart.”

I jerked my hand back, coming out of my nightmare, sweat broke out over my skin, a cold chill in my bones. Al didn’t look much better. His eyes narrowed. “I stand corrected.” He looked at Frankie. “Make yourself scarce.” Frankie shot to his feet and walked away.

“I thought you couldn’t do that to Valkyries,” I said, still shaken from what I’d experienced, more real than the dreams had ever been.

“I’ve never touched one before, not while I was using my talent. I’ve also never felt someone’s fear before.” He leaned across the table. “How often do you have that nightmare?”

Suddenly the door to the coffee shop was thrown open and I jumped. Zander looked around at the startled customers and said something I couldn’t understand, and they all suddenly slumped over in their seats, sound asleep. He marched toward us, the look on his face murderous. Frankie stepped in front of him, and his hand shot out, closing around Frankie’s throat. “Don’t tempt me, Demon,” he growled.

“Stop!” I yelled, jumping to my feet.

“We’re leaving now, Angelica,” Zander growled, his nasty face flashing as Frankie kicked Zander’s shin. Zander threw Frankie, with one arm, over a table and into a wall.

I felt myself catch fire as Zander turned his attention toward us and began walking my way. “I’ll pretend word hasn’t gotten to you yet, that anyone who messes with Angelica answers to me.”

“She really does catch fire,” Al said, looking at me with fascination.

Zander stepped between us. “This is the only warning you will get. If you come near her again, you’ll wish you were dead.”

“This is neutral territory,” Al said, glancing around Zander's massive form at me, where I was beginning to hyperventilate, my panic from the flames too much. “Breathe, Dakyrie, you’re fine.”

Zander turned to face me. He gently cupped my cheek, “Sleep.” I felt my eyes grow heavy, my flames died, and I slipped out of consciousness.