The Dream

Morach the Great was planning a special meal for the student body. Once lunch was served, he would be in control of all their actions and desires, throwing the city of Meadow's Creek into anarchy.

Natalie raced to stop him. After an all-night wild goose chase that left her two steps behind him, she tracked Morach to the high school. It was early morning; the halls were still empty and the floors shined brightly like they were just waxed. Dressed in her normal slaying attire of tight jeans and a fitted black leather jacket, Natalie jogged with quiet steps so her boots wouldn't announce her arrival.

She saw her mentor and weapons trainer, Mark Glovin, rush towards her. There were books under his arm and his hand gripped a long sword. He was a gruff guy who grumbled when he talked, but that was one of the things Natalie liked about him.

Mark passed her the sword. "Minions are in the cafeteria. Guess who's holding their reigns?"

"Let me guess, it's not the Pillsbury Dough boy."

"Definitely not the soft and giggly type. You have a plan?"

She met his level stare head on. "Going to stop him. Plan enough."

Mark snorted. "Kid, it might help to have a better plan than that."

"No time," Natalie let out a slow breath. "Get out of sight and stay there. I don't want anyone hurt. Anyone being you. I'll take care of this before first period." Unfortunately, her first class was science lab. Natalie hated anything with the word lab in it ever since she went up against a mad scientist last year.

"Staying in one piece is a plus," Mark paused, "be careful, kid. I don't like the looks of these ones. Something savage about them. Don't turn your back."

Natalie watched him with a small smile round the corner. Once he was gone, she hurried to the cafeteria. Beside the swinging door, she squatted down and gripped the hilt of her sword. Pushing the door open slightly, she peered through the crack and saw shadows moving against the wall. There were only a few and should be able to take them all at once. This time she would have to do it alone.

Damien, her sometimes partner and boyfriend, was held up on the second floor with his own battle.  Natalie took a breath to steady herself and tried not to worry about him, but there was always the dread that eventually Damien might not come back.

Those thoughts, so not helpful right now. Natalie needed to be calm, like Mark taught her. Fear, panic, there was no place for those emotions on the battlefield. Her long, silky blond hair framed her face as she peered inside the cafeteria. The shadows she previously glimpsed were gone, but she knew somewhere inside they were up to no good. With her heart galloping, Natalie pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The cafeteria was still dark thanks to its north facing windows. The kitchen crew hadn't arrived yet, evidenced by the yellow plastic chairs still turned upside down on the collection of round tables. There was a warm glow around the kitchen buffet station, which was oddly welcoming. It almost seemed normal. Usually it was lined with kids getting slop added to their trays before they moved on for cartons of milk, but now it was empty. Natalie heard the sound of pots clanging and the sound of deep, menacing laughter. Not wanting to be discovered yet, she inched closer to see what was happening.

She squatted down behind a table for cover. Her eyes hovered above the plastic surface, witnessing a strange scene in the kitchen. Three demons, all wearing white chef's hats and matching aprons were hard at work. One was holding a wooden spoon while the remaining two were sprinkling powder into giant stainless steel pots. The smell was acidic and Natalie scrunched her nose without meaning to. Behind them, stood the beast himself; Morach the Great. He paced the length of the kitchen like an expectant father, but he was not so innocent or naïve.

He was a demon master and all evil creatures answered his call, happy to subjugate themselves as servants to his will. He was dark green, with long waves of black hair. His suits were always colorful. That day, his nineteen twenties gangster number was deep lavender. A matching fedora on his head, along with a stylish feather, was tilted to one side.

Dangerous as he was fast, Natalie would need to be careful while fighting his minions. If she could draw the three out, away from him, she would have the tactical advantage, as Mark would say.

While she formulated her plan, her thoughts were interrupted. "Well, well," it was Morach's playful yet sinister voice, "if it isn't the smell of the slayer. But why does she hide? Does she finally realize there is no besting Morach the Great?"

Great, Natalie thought with damp palms. Here's to demon sniffing abilities. Quietly she laid her sword down to the ground. Beside her was a small can of tomatoes that must have rolled from the kitchen some time ago. She picked it up and rose to her feet. She wore her indignant expression and her blue eyes flashed with anger. "Missed out on your true calling as a culinary genius, Morach?"

Excitedly at hearing their master's name, the minions began to chant it like a choir of evil cheerleaders. But at least Natalie didn't have to see them in short skirts.

"Always a genius," he twiddled his fingers together. His minions continued mixing and chopping a mixture of onions and carrots; they wouldn't attack until the order was given, like a trio of well-trained dogs. "I'm glad you recognize true smarts when faced with it. Of course what are we going to do with you? I am missing an ingredient for our beef stew."

"Tomatoes?" Natalie asked and held up her can.

Morach gave a surprised gasp. "That's where those went! Oh, you are tricky, aren't you? However, I was referring to the meat. What good is cursed stew without the meat?"

"Cursed to do what?" Natalie always liked knowing what his goals were.

"Oh, the usual. Enslave the students to me and help me renovate my lair. It's all about delegation these days. Very rarely does a demon master need to get his hands dirty, you know."

Somehow Natalie didn't doubt it.

Morach continued, "I hear slayer meat is tender. Why don't we find out, boys?" The minions nodded their heads; they were never happier than when given orders from their master. Placing down their spoons and knives, they turned to face him. "We can use her bones to make soup next week."

Natalie didn't much like his attitude. "I'm afraid I'm not on the menu, but I welcome your 'boys' to try."

The minions turned to face her. Their expressions of hunger, Natalie was sure, would be enough to make a cheeseburger uncomfortable. Globs of saliva dripped from one enemy's thick curved fangs. His mouth opened to a small slit and he spoke the name of what he was hungry for, "Slayer."

Creepy and it caused her spine to tingle. Before the demons charged, Natalie assumed a pitcher's stance and wound up her arm. Most pitchers didn't have the super strength that she did. The tremor of power intensified in her body. It crackled through her limbs and she released the can from her fingers toward the kitchen.

Bull's eye, Natalie thought as it hit the pot of brew, knocking it off of the stove. The sound of liquid splashing was punctuated by metal clamoring to the floor.

Morach was incensed. Shaking his claws in the air he said, "I hate high school cafeterias!"

The demons were on her faster than she expected. Turning to retreat to a defensible position, Natalie tripped on her sword and sent it skating down the tile just out of her reach. Crap, Natalie thought to herself, her blue eyes wide with fear. The demons behind her moved fast, like they shared a single mind. With quiet rage, they marched with a level stare. The look in their eye was the kind that made her every muscle contract like she was assaulted.

Her mind flashed, and in an instant she remembered she was the one with the power. With a guttural grunt, Natalie picked up one of the yellow plastic chairs. Using a sweeping arc, she corked one demon in the head, sending vibrations up the chair and into her arm. While the minion tried to regroup, she attacked the second with an overhead swing, driving the minion like he was a giant nail into the ground. While continuing to bash him, her leg snapped out, catching the third in the chest. Beneath her boot she felt a snap and heard an audible crack as the demon groaned, falling backwards onto a table.

It collapsed like a house of cards, sending the chairs crashing onto his head. The first two minions were back on their feet. Natalie needed her weapon and needed to get to it fast. She dove for the sword, feeling claws grazing past her legs as they tried to snare her. One grabbed her by the waist, his mouth much too close to her for comfort. His breath was hot and stale, like a rank pair of old gym socks; Morach needed to give this guy a better dental plan.

Natalie crashed to the floor, the minion's grasp loosening on her. Her stomach smashed into the tile; despite the pain, she responded on instinct. Extending her arm, she stretched her fingers until they wrapped around the hilt of her sword. Flipping over onto her back, she found herself nearly pinned down by the minion. She kicked her feet, a cry of fear escaped her lips, scampering her further back along the tile and lifted her sword just enough so that the demon fell onto it.

Natalie rolled away as the demon dissolved into a pile of black blood, just like all evil beings did once they died. It began at the head and feet, working its way toward the beast's middle. As the body liquefied, it soared up like a giant fountain before spraying outward, covering the area in blood. Her move was fast enough so only the arm of her jacket was caught; one of the many reasons she favored black leather.

Morach screamed his frustration and tugged on his hat. "Someone really needs to breed a smarter minion!"

She didn't have time to exchange quips with him as the two foes that were left faced her. One extended his black claws to their full length and took a swipe at her middle. It forced her to give up ground. Natalie jumped backwards to avoid being impaled times four. As she did that, the other minion advanced on her right and sucker punched her across the jaw. Natalie's head snapped to the side and the pain radiated along her jawbone and up her skull. She grimaced, but needed to focus. Panicking never got her out of anything and by God, Natalie wanted to still be alive by the time first period started. Lab or no lab.

"Enough with the tenderizing, pal." Her right arm came up to block another punch from the same minion while she kicked the first far enough away that he wasn't an issue for the moment. With desperation, she issued a sloppy round house kick to her current attacker. When he didn't fall, a wave of quiet panic overtook her, but his arms flailed and his chest was exposed. Natalie fell to her knees, pushing her sword up into the meat of his belly. Her face scrunched with anger and she slid her sword further up into him with ease, as if he was made of jelly.

The minion screamed while gripping his chest as Natalie pulled the sword free. Its tip dripped black blood like a feather dipped into an inkwell. Glancing over, she saw Morach and the last minion scampering away.

"Hey," Natalie called with frustration. "I'm not done with you two yet."

With the way Morach was running out of the cafeteria, she could see he didn't want to be bothered with another 'why evil is bad' lecture. He stopped and faced her one last time. "I bid you farewell, young slayer. We will see each other again. This I promise you. Arrivederci!"

Natalie charged after him, but Morach threw a stone down on the ground. It sizzled and exploded into a shower of lights and smoke. She turned away, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her leather jacket and coughed. There was intense tightness in her chest and her lungs ached like they were on fire. Again, it would seem, Morach got away. Darn him, Natalie thought, and his evil arch nemesis ways.

It was a relief to be done with the fight. No students would be enslaved as contractors to Morach and Natalie managed to live to see another day; thank goodness for that. It felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. As the smoke cleared, Natalie saw him.

Damien swaggered through the cafeteria's door like the hero in his own movie. An unlikely mix of brooding and Indiana Jones, he wore a black fedora upon his head, covering his shoulder length black hair. His face was covered in day old stubble and he was easy on the eyes. He appeared to be only a few years older than her, but Natalie suspected he was more.

She was relieved to see him. "Well, there you are. Everything work out all right?"

With a nod he replied, "My time was well spent. The booby traps in metal shop had been disabled. No impalements today on my watch. Maybe tomorrow." He smiled at his joke, but his face fell. "What's the matter?" A soft hand rested on her shoulder.

 "It was just a hard fight." Natalie blinked her eyes. "I thought I was going to meet my maker and I'm not talking about Kitchen Aid."

A small smile graced his lips. "You always have my confidence." He stood close and being near him caused Natalie's heart to quicken. His jaw was strong with a prominent brow while his eyes were the bluest and most intense of anyone she ever met. He smelled spicy in a good way and it drew her closer to him.

"So that's where you keep it." They walked side by side toward the kitchen. "I guess I was just hoping you'd show up in time to help." Her voice was curt and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye with deep suspicion. 

If Damien noticed, he didn't say. "My two minions, they took longer to kill than I would like to admit, but the job is done now. The students should again be safe. It least with me here, you did not have to be in two places at once."

He was right about that. "I guess it is handy having a sidekick. Mark's great, but he doesn't like to see action these days."

"I am no girl's sidekick!" Damien scowled.

Natalie considered that with a toss of her head. "You look like a sidekick. Act like the side kick. Scream bloody murder like a..."

"I killed two demons," Damien interjected. "They were big and very scary, but I never screamed. Never." His eyes narrowed.

"Except for that time last week." Natalie pointed out with a wave of her finger.

"That wasn't a scream. It was more of a yelp."

She smirked. "This all proves why I work alone. Having a sidekick is just too argumentative."

Damien snorted. "You always say that, but we continue to work together."

"Because you're always stalking me," Natalie huffed, but it didn't stop her from taking his hand.

They stepped into the kitchen and Damien scowled at the mess the demons left behind. There were pots on the floor and layers of goo dripped from the counters. Lying like rocks in a stream were stray carrot tops and peeled potatoes.  "Disgusting," he said.

"Looks like my last attempt at a Gordon Ramsey recipe," Natalie reflected. "We'll need to clean it up so no one gets hurt by enchanted chicken broth. I nominate you for mopping duty."

"I'm sure you do, but I nominated you first. In my head."

Natalie giggled as he put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. Her heart settled down from the flurry of punches it was a few minutes ago. "What are you doing," she asked softly, crossing her wrists behind his neck.

"Convincing you not to make me mop," Damien said with a slow laugh. His lips were warm and soft as they met hers repeatedly. Natalie couldn't help but to close her eyes and get lost in his tender embrace. His hands gripped her back with urgency and she squeezed him closer, forcing her body up against his.

She loved him. She did; but most of the time Natalie still didn't trust him. Her blue eyes searched his. "Where did you really go?"

"I told you, it took longer than I suspected it would," he said quickly, like he didn't need to think of an answer.

"You're better than that. I've seen you fight."

"Will you ever trust me completely?" He asked the question with real concern, as if the question weighed heavily upon him. Natalie was sorry for that. "Do I always have to explain myself?"

"I trust you as much as I can, under the circumstances."

"And the circumstances are?" Damien asked as he held her close, keeping his hands on her hips.

Natalie tilted her head and studied him. His blue eyes were intense, but she loved getting lost inside of them. "You're a half demon warrior. I never know what side you're on."

Damien's mouth swung open and lines of frustration creased around his eyes. "I'm always on your-"

Her eyes gazed at the wall behind him, seeing something that shouldn't be there. Scowling, she moved towards it, her steps were slow and deliberate. The wall shimmered blue almost like a still pool of water at night under the breadth of the full moon. It started out with a single glowing pinprick, but expanded into a spinning radiant globe. The edges were gold while the center was a deep radiating blue that reminded her of the ocean. Natalie reached her hand out to touch it when it began to crackle like the roar of thunder.

She watched with frightened amazement as the wall faded, like it was demolished except there was no debris, no sound, nor cloud of smoke. An instant later the wall was back, just as it always was except now there was the sound of mocking laughter all around them. Natalie glanced up as she heard a voice. It was a hushed voice of an old man raspy man with a propensity for too many cigarettes. "You're not as real as you think, are you, Natalie Johnson?"

Questioning, Natalie glanced at Damien. "What was that?"

"I don't know," he shook his head and swallowed hard. "But it's time for you to catch the bus."

"What?" Natalie asked in a shaky whisper. Drawn from the dream, her blue eyes morphed back into their natural brown as everything else around them changed.