Chapter 8

Todd sat in the Café with Annette. All eyes were on him and solely him. It wasn't everyday a demon walked into a Café in broad daylight. Annette had ordered him a hot chocolate topped off with whipped cream, saying it was his favorite when he was little. As for herself, Annette had ordered a hazelnut Latte which had a leaf pattern drawn into the foam.

"I used to take you here every time you'd come and visit, Todd," said Annette.

"How often did I visit when I was younger, Annette?" Todd asked.

"You'd come stay with me every summer after you'd turned five years old. You stayed with me up until you were ten years old. After the fight with your father, you stopped visiting. It's been eight years since you've last visited. But I am happy you are here, dearie." Annette reaches across the small table they sat at and pats Todd on his hand. "I've received a few pictures over the years of you, you like wearing black, don't you?"

Todd takes a sip of his hot chocolate. He was surprised at how it tasted. It was pretty good. So the imp that lived under Todd's bed only thinks he stopped visiting after three years but its been nearly more than eight?! Imps usually never have a good memory, Todd thinks to himself. Eventually Todd could sense that the people in the Café, both the customers and employees, stopped staring at him. That's one less problem to worry about. The bell above the front door of the Café chimes, signaling that another customer walks in. Todd looks up from his hot chocolate and sees Betty, the one friend of Annette's whom he had met the other day. Following close behind her, was one person whom Todd knew he would have to deal with but not yet. The local priest...

Betty walks over to the table where Annette and Todd sat.

"Hello, Nettie," said Betty.

Annette looks up from her Latte. She smiles at Betty. "Hello, Betty. What brings you here?" Annette asks.

Todd looks dead at the priest. He knew why Betty brought him here and he was going to make sure Shiola didn't hit the fan.

"Hello, Father Dan. What brings you here?" Annette finishes her Latte after she acknowledged Father Dan as well.

"I heard your grandson is back in town for a visit. I just wanted to see how he has been since his last visit all those years ago," said Father Dan.

Todd's ears start to feel like they are burning. He could hear the lie and it was very evident it was directed towards him. He knew what Betty was trying to do and he was going to make sure she doesn't follow through. "Hello, Father Dan. It's been a long time since we've last met. What has it been? Five maybe eight years but who's counting," said Todd. He was planning on using intimidation tactics without being to noticeable about it. Last thing he needed to have happen was the Café to burn down in hellfire and Brimstone.

"Last I have heard, Todd, your parents were not going to allow you to come back to our quiet little town of Amber Falls." Father Dan looks over to Annette. "Mind if I sit with you and Todd, Annette?"

"Not at all Father Dan." Annette gets up from her chair. "Todd I'm going to get us a cookie to share. They are pretty big and I don't plan on eating the whole thing myself," said Annette with a laugh before she heads up to the counter.

Father Dan returns his attention back to Todd. "Shouldn't you be in Hell?!" Father Dan hissed in a hushed voice.

"Shouldn't you be giving a sermon back at the church? Oh wait I forgot, that's not your line of work, Danny." Todd smiles at Father Dan, showing his fangs a little. "You think your being a big boy by trying to scare me?! You're like a fly that isn't even worth my time but if you hurt Annette in any way..." Todd leans as close to Father Dan as close as he could over the table. "Your soul will get no mercy from me."

"Then go back to the pits of Hell from whence you came!"

"Sorry I don't take orders from God's underlings. Until my contract is complete, I am not going anywhere. Now I suggest you leave, Danny, or I'll be spilling every sin your done in your life to the public and ruin your image."

"You wouldn't dare!" Father Dan was trying his hardest not to appear frightened.

"You became a part of the church to get away from your past. I'd hate to see it brought out in the light." Todd makes eye contact with Father Dan before returning to his seat. He hides his laugh when Father Dan hurries out the door of the Café. Betty followed closely behind him.

"What was that about?" Annette asks as she sits back down in her chair across from Todd. She sets a plate down on the table which had a chocolate chip cookie nearly as big as it.

"He said something about indigestion before running out." Todd breaks off a piece of the cookie before eating it.

"Oh dearie me. Danny always had stomach problems, even as a child. It of a troubled youth back in the day. Does me some good to see he has gone on the good path by joining the church."

Not all humans change and Danny is a good example of one of them. Just because you decided to change your ways, doesn't mean your past will come back to haunt you, Todd thinks to himself as he listens to Annette tell stories about the townsfolk of Amber Falls. Even though Todd wasn't fully paying attention, he did catch some good information about the town he was in.

After another thirty minutes, Annette and Todd had finished the chocolate chip cookie they were sharing. As they were about to leave the Café, Todd was approached by one of the managers of the Café.

"Yes, what is it?" Todd asks.

The manager hands Todd a punch card. "It's a punch card. Each timenyou visit, one of my staff will punch the card. After ten visits, you can get a free small drink, hot or cold. Or you can redeem the coupon for a cookie. The choice is yours," said the manager, Henry.

"Thank you." Todd takes the punch card from Henry and hands it to Annette. He could tell that Henry had something else to say.

"Also thank you for making Annette smile again. We all know it hasn't been easy for her since Arthur passed away."

"Greif is never easy, Henry. It's good to see you again. Come along now, Todd. We have to head to the furniture store to see what we can get for your room." Annette heads to her car and Todd starts to follow.

Todd looks back and could see a few of the customers and at least two of the employees along with Henry, were watching them leave. To be polite, Todd waves back at the people before getting into Annette's car.

"That went quite well. Surprising to see Danny again but Betty too?" Annette laughs. "Betty can be pretty noisy at times so it's best to watch what you say around her."

"Why do you treat her like a friend?" Todd asks as he buckles up his seat belt.

"Betty and I knew each other since we were kids. She's had a thorn in her side since the day Arthur chose me over her. He chose to be with me since he didn't like how she became to be back in our junior year of high school." Annette buckles up her seat belt. She goes back to telling her stories as she starts her car.

As they drive off down the street, Todd started to get the feeling it wouldn't be the last time he was going to deal with Danny again. That priest is going to be a pain in my horns, Todd thinks to himself.