The Cafe

As I looked around the cafe for Kitty and Slyther though at the same time I wasn’t paying attention to anything. Probably because I was still trying to process everything that happened yesterday. I mean when I woke up I was just this normal orphan girl with plain brown hair.

My only worry was if I was moving to a different home or not, now I have silver hair and I’m pretty sure I have a lot more things to worry about. Not only that but I just gained memory of how my parents died which if you ask me is not a very good memory which is probably why I wanted my Uncle to era-. I was jolted out of my thoughts when someone clapped their hands in front of my face.

I turn to glare at that person and saw Kitty and Slyther standing next to me. Kitty had an annoyed look on her face and Slyther was giving me a sheepish smile. I gave Kitty a glare knowing it was her that clapped her hands in front of my face but before I could say anything she went off on me.

" FIRST YOU WERE LATE AND THEN YOU WALK PASS US FOUR TIMES A-“!

I cover her mouth with my hand as I say.

" Alright, alright no need to make a scene Kitty people are starting to stare at us because of your yelling “.

She knocked my hand away glaring at me and was about to start yelling again when Slyther said as she handed me a cup.

" We got you hot cocoa Saph, with extra whipped cream just how you like it “.

I grinned at her ” thanks Slyther, your the best “.

Kitty huffed before grabbing my hand and dragging me to where she and Slyther are sitting. She set me down in the seat that was unoccupied at their table. When Kitty was dragging me my sleeve must have ridden up on my arm because Slyther gasped and asked.

" Oh my god Saph what happened “?

I didn’t know what she was talking about until she jerked my sleeve up revealing more of the black bandage.

" Oh that I was attacked yesterday after school and then was patched up by someone who witnessed, after I woke up at their place I went back home and then up to Kitty calling me to yell at me “.

Kitty winced ” I’m so sorry Saph I didn’t know, I wouldn't have woken you up yelling if I knew you were hurt “.

I just grinned at her ” It’s ok as you said you didn’t know and it doesn't even hurt “.

I could still see a look of guilt on her face making me say it a second time.

" It’s ok Kitty “.

She nodded and looked like she wanted to ask more questions and I’m sure so did Slyther but before they could I changed the subject.

" So Kitty how's your art project going “?

She groaned in annoyance which meant she took the bait, though I can still feel Slyther’s curious stare on me.

" God, it’s been horrible Saph are you sure you can’t just do it for me I'll even pay you “.

I laughed ” yes I’m sure I can’t do it for you even if you would pay me, I did tell you not to take art but you did anyway so you have to get yourself out of this not me “.

She pouted ” You're so mean Sapphire “.

I just shooked my head grinning at what she just said: ” you are so childish, Kitty “.

She narrowed her eyes at me ” no I’m not “.

I laughed ” yes you are “.

" Am not “.

" Are too “.

" Am not “.

" Are too ".

" Am not ".

" Are too ".

" Am n- ".

" Alright, that’s enough people are starting to stare at us, though I guess that's nothing new it happens anywhere we go,” Slyther said interrupting us.

She then turned to Kitty ” I’ll help you with your art project but I won’t do it for you “.

Kitty groaned " fine “.

Slyther grinned knowing that she had won before she said ” so I’ve been working on a book and it’s about ten chapters in, then just yesterday I was asked if I would sign a non-exclusive contract for that book I'm going to sign it later today “.

Kitty clasp her hands in her own " that’s great Slyther I'm so happy for you “.

I on the other hand wasn’t so sure ” did you look into the company before you signed the contract I don't you to get scammed “?

Kitty rolled her eyes at me as Slyther said:” Yes I look into it and it looks legit Saph “.

I nodded " then congrats Slyther I’m sure it will be a good book and I'm happy for you “.

We all grinned at each other and we were still doing it when we all heard the shutter of a camera taking a photo. When we looked in the direction of the sound we saw Jack standing there with a camera. Jack was the son of the cafe owner and he usually takes the pictures that go on the walls.

He is quite short at 5"0′, has shoulder-length green hair, a button nose, full lips, rosy cheeks, sun-kissed skin, light blue eyes, a skinny build, and all green clothes. He grinned at us holding up the camera in his hand as he said.

" That’s going up on th wall, it’s a rare thing to see Sapphire grin and now I have a photo of her grinning “.

They all laughed when I rolled my eyes at him ” hey Jack how's your Photography class doing “.

" Great I’m going to be starting the advanced classes soon and I might be getting a gig soon “.

" Really where, when, ” Kitty asked him.

" A friend’s older brother’s birthday party “.

Zane

I frowned at the lady in front of me in annoyance as I ask once more.

“ Do you know where Sapphire is “?

She glared at me “ as I have already told you, no I don’t she left before I woke up now if you excuse me I have to cook breakfast for my other foster kids “.

Before I could say anything else she had slammed the door in my face. I turned around and was about to walk away when I heard someone say.

“ You know if you want to find Fire you should ask me “.

I turned around to see a girl wearing all black with Pink hair.

“ The names Pink I’m Sapphire’s protector given to her by her Uncle “.

I stared at the girl for a second before I asked.

" If you are Sapphire’s protector why didn’t you show up when the demon attacked her “?

She sighed ” not that it is any of your business but I got attacked by another demon nearby “.

I nodded ” alright then where’s Sapphire “?

" She’s at a cafe nearby with her two best friends “.

I nodded before turning to the others ” she’s at a cafe nearby we should probably get there before another demon finds her “.

They took off towards the cafe and I was about to follow after them when Pink grabbed my arm and said.

" Be careful Zane I have a feeling someone close to you is going to end up hurting you, someone real close “.

Before I could ask what she was talking about or who she released my arm and walked in the direction of the cafe. What she said didn’t make sense because there are only two people I really trust. And I know for sure I can trust them with my life probably because they save my life many times before.

Falthen

I slowly make my way down the steps to the dungeons that were built when the building was first built. They were made for when we didn’t know how to kill demons. We captured the demons and placed and while they were down here we tried to kill them.

Well, at least my brother did I was barely allowed out of my room because of my sickness. Of course, since they figured out how to kill demons this place became more like a storage place. Though they still kept the cell in case they run across demons that they can’t kill.

Of course, this was after they lost the ability to ruin cast, they could teach themselves how to do it but it would take months to learn even the simplest ruins. Though from what I heard some of the hunter headquarters have some that only learn ruin casting. They spend every hour of the day to teach themselves how to ruin cast.

Of course, I never met anyone who was able to ruin cast myself by the time I was born the other headquarters cut ties with us and each other. I’m not really sure why my parents never told me anything to do with Demon Hunters. Though my brother Thalton once went to another headquarter when he was fourteen and said it was quite different.

The headquarters he went to was one dedicated to learning how to ruin cast again and nearly everywhere he stepped there was a ruin. Of course, they weren’t active, you see if you make the slightest mistake in drawing a ruin they don’t work. This is why you need to stop everything and only focus on learning to draw ruins.

As I said we lost the ability to cast ruins so the ruins must be drawn on the ground and the demon led to them. If they get even one of them wrong then they just jeopardized everyone that is with them. This is why the headquarter’s I grew up in only focused on fighting and easier ways to kill a demon.

If someone wanted to learn to draw ruins no one would stop them but most didn’t want to. I actually started learning how to draw ruins before my parents cast me out. I was quite good at it and I knew I wanted to do that if a cure was ever found.

I actually haven’t drawn anything since my parents threw me out I just never felt the need to draw anymore. I finally made it down the steps to the dungeon. It was filled with different Hunter artifacts that have been collected or created over the years.

I had to make my way through different stuff like old demon traps. Quite a lot of these things are still active so if anyone comes down here to try and steal something they could get seriously hurt. Or if one of the new recruits accidentally stumble down here.

That’s why it is quite easy to hide anyone down here without anyone knowing there here. I make my way to the furthest corner of this place stopping just outside the cell. I threw the bag into the cell’s little window on the door.

" Eat up Thalton I don’t need your death on my hand “.

He let out a bitter laugh ” I didn’t think you cared Falthen you’ll soon have every Demon Hunter’s death on your hands “.

I let out a breath ” not if the girl from the prophecy can stop them “.

He was quiet for a second before he said ” I thought the demons would want you to kill her “.

” They did I convinced them that we needed her, which is probably true I doubt the courts would let them take over the human world if they kill her “.

" So you’re hoping they will let the demons take over if you spare her “.

" No, I’m hoping she will be able to stop them if I keep stalling “.

I heard a noise from inside the cell before Thalton’s face appeared in the window.

" Falthen why are you doing this “?

I sighed ” Because I have to Thalton, now drop it “.

Instead of dropping it, he looked me right in the eyes and said.

" No, you don’t Falthen “.

I glared at him and said with a little force ” yes I do “.

He narrowed his eyes at me in anger ” why Falthen why do you have to do this “.

" BECAUSE THALTON I’M BOUND TO A DEMON “.

He jolted back with a look of surprise in his eyes “what “?

I sighed while running my fingers through my hair.

“After mom and dad kicked me out- “.

" What do mean mom and dad kicked you out, you ran away “.

I let out a bitter laugh ” is that what they told you, no they kicked me out once they learned how to cure me of my sickness “.

He blinked in surprise ” that makes no sense they spent their whole life looking for a cure for you “.

" Yeah well once they found it they didn’t want me anymore “.

He shook his head not wanting to believe me but I stepped right up to the window and looked him in the eyes.

" They dropped me off in an alleyway hoping the sickness would kill me because they couldn’t do it themselves. Mom couldn’t even look me in the eyes when dad told me to get out of the car and never come back. I tried to catch her eyes but she turned away from me so got I out and left. I walked as far as I could before I got too sick to even stand so I sat down against the wall of the alleyway. I was ready to die when a demon came up and healed me. The demon told me he had the cure to heal me completely but I would need to bound myself to him. I was reluctant to agree but when he offered revenge I agreed. I was hurt not thinking clearly and it is something I regret to this day and something I will never be able to take back. Something I will have to live with for the rest of my life however long it is “.

With that said I turned and walked away heading back to my life of being a demon’s puppet.

My brother didn’t call out to me probably still trying to comprehend what I just said. As I made my way back up the stairs I felt a weight that was on my shoulders go away. Of course, I still had a lot of weight on my shoulders but I at least got rid of some.

Sapphire

" My brother decided to put a blue paint bomb in his book bag so when the principal opened it the thing blew up in his face “.

I nearly dropped my hot cocoa as I burst out laughing at what Slyther said.

She glared at me “ it’s not funny Saph “.

“ Oh, but it is “.

Slyther opened her mouth to say something but then for some reason, it seems like she is frozen I waved my hand in front of her face to see if she would move but she didn’t even blink. I grinned before grabbing her cocoa and started drinking it.

" Wow your friend is sitting next to you literally frozen and you’re just sitting there drinking their cocoa but then again you were always like this when you were a kid so why am I even surprised “.

I blinked in surprise at the vaguely familiar voice ” Pink “?

I turned around and saw a girl the same age and height as I dressed in all black with pink hair, she had light brown eyes, full lips, a slightly crooked nose, sun-kissed skin, looks to be about the same height as me, and a cleft in her chin. I couldn’t stop staring at her, it looks like her but it can’t be Pink right. I mean Pink is just an imaginary friend that I made up when I was a kid.

She grinned at me ” The one and only “.

I opened my mouth to ask something else when the boy I met yesterday burst through the door of the cafe.

" We need to leave right n- “.

He was interrupted by the whole glass shattering and showing us with glass, in swarmed black shadows that surrounded us. The shadow closest to us started to form itself into the form of a man, well more like a shadow of a man but still, it’s quite weird. It looked kinda like the shadowy figures that killed my parents in the recent memories I got back.

" Hello, Zane you found what I was looking for, mind to hand her over, or do I have to take her from you “?

The boy I now know as Zane smirked at the shadow.

" Come on Carnithis you know I never take the easy way out “.

The shadow chuckled ” yes but I thought it was worth a try because I really don’t feel like a fight today but oh well I guess it has to happen “.

Right when the shadow said that last word every shadow in the place surged forward. Before they could get within ten feet of us they were intercepted by some kind of light barrier. It shimmered every time one of the shadows knocked into it but it didn’t seem like it was going to fall anytime soon.

Zane turned to us ” Let’s go “.

Before I could argue he grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me into his chest then his arms just wrapped around my waist. I was about to pull away but before I could the world around us started to shimmer. Then a second later we were standing in the same room I woke up in yesterday.

He instantly let me go but before he could turn away from me I slapped him on the face. His head snapped to the side before he turned to look back at me as he said.

" I will disregard what you just did because all this is new to you but if you do that again I will break every bone in your body “.

There was a dark look in his eyes as he glared at me that almost made me flinch but instead I met his glare head-on.

" Don’t touch me ever again “.

His glare turned to a look of amusement before he turned and walked out of the room.