Chapter 11: Chocolate Raspberry Martini
It was Christmas at Dullahan’s. The entire pub had been decorated to the nines for the holiday with the help of Dante’s demonic skill, and everyone’s enthusiasm. Joan thought that the pub looked absolutely amazing and there was a warm, fluttery feeling anytime she looked around the place.
Dante had somehow found an eight-foot tall Blue Spruce and the entire staff of Dullahan’s had decorated the Christmas tree with a spiral of gold and green ribbon, glittery green and gold balls, and candy canes that were swirled with red, green and white. The staff had also added a few random ornaments, which they’d brought from home for a more personal touch. Artificial golden butterflies also decorated the tree giving it a whimsical feel. Pine garlands with lights and ornaments decorated the front window, and similar garlands also draped along the bar.
Alan had purchased a seven-foot tall, blow-up Santa balloon online that was sitting outside of the restaurant on the sidewalk. There was also a life-size Santa doll inside of the pub that danced and sang Christmas carols when you clapped in front of it.
Dante had come up with a special menu of Christmas themed cocktails. The Peppermint Stick was a drink, which used white crème de cacao and peppermint schnapps to get a mint chocolate flavor. The Christmas Cookie was a drink, which had Kahlua, Bailey’s and a shot of peppermint schnapps. The Santa Shot contained layers of peppermint schnapps, grenadine and green crème de menthe for a beautiful little shot of Christmas spirit.
The Chocolate Raspberry Martini contained raspberry vodka and white crème de cacao. The Red Hot Santa Tini used chili pepper infused vodka and had a rim around the martini’s glass of cocoa powder mixed with cayenne. A Snowball was a drink, which featured tequila and cinnamon. The Red Rudolph was a warm drink that featured cinnamon, orange and cranberry flavors. The Candy Cane was a drink that blended schnapps, berry vodka, and crème de cacao. Dante came up with several drinks that featured eggnog - spiked eggnog with rum, eggnog cappuccinos, and an eggnog martini. There was also Hot Butter Rum and Mulled Wine, which was red wine with sugar and lots of spices. On the menu there were also various coffee drinks available with flavors like: candy cane, peppermint, gingerbread, pumpkin, chocolate, and caramel.
A demon celebrating Christmas? Dante knew that it was ironic. If Lucifer could see him…he would probably take Dante’s head for treason. The thought made him smile.
Dullahan’s had been packed on Christmas Eve and the patrons had promised profusely to come again on Christmas Day. Carmen’s piano playing and singing had been a smash hit. Carmen had performed many holiday favorites: Jingle Bells, Oh, Christmas Tree, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, My Grown-Up Christmas List, Silent Night, Silver Bells, White Christmas, Santa Baby, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Carol of the Bells, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
However, when Christmas day arrived, Dullahan’s steady stream of customers suddenly fizzled to a stop. The change was too abrupt to be normal and Joan wondered what the hell was going on.
Dante, Joan, Kim, Alan, Fred and Hilda were waiting for the customers who had yet to arrive, and it was already twelve o’ clock noon. Carmen still hadn’t arrived at the pub but she usually arrived later anyways. At that moment, the front door opened and the bell jingled as Carmen made her way inside. The attractive Latin woman was bundled up in a white fur coat, matching fur hat, gold scarf, and gloves because it was snowing lightly outside.
“Brrr! It’s freezing outside!” Carmen complained as she began to strip off her jacket, hat and gloves. She rubbed her arms. “You guys are not going to believe this but…that café down the street, Cornelia Street Café, has a line two blocks long!”
“Cornelia Street Café?” Alan spoke up with a frown on his face.
“Hey, isn’t that where your Gilebert works?” Joan asked Kim in a teasing tone.
Kim nodded, “Yes.” The supermodel’s expression was oddly serious.
“Did he have some kind of special event planned for today?” Joan prodded her friend.
Kim shrugged. “Hell if I know.” She was acting strangely apathetic.
Joan tapped her chin in thought before an idea came to her. “Alan, let’s go spy on Cornelia Street Café I’m curious to see what Gilebert is up to. We worked so hard to get our current clientele to let someone steal them away without a fight!” Joan gripped her bicep in a very tomboyish manner. “He’s only seen me once so I doubt he’ll recognize me. And he’s never seen Alan. Dante would draw too much attention if he went, and besides, we need him here at the bar.”
Alan blinked and pointed a finger at himself. “You want to go with me?”
Joan nodded and a sly smile curled her lips.
Alan hesitated. He didn’t know if he liked the idea of going and spying on Cornelia Street Café and Gilebert. Then again, Alan was curious about Kim’s boyfriend. What was he like? What did he look like? Was he good looking? How good looking was he? Alan admitted to himself that he was definitely curious. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.” Alan finally spoke up in a firm tone.
Kim gave Alan a surprised look while Dante shot Alan a proud one. Carmen’s expression was amused. The pianist sauntered over to the bar and took a seat upon one of the barstools. “While you’re gone, Joan, I’ll keep Dante company. One Chocolate Raspberry Martini, please.” Carmen batted her long, dark lashes at the demon bartender.
Dante looked unaffected by Carmen’s flirtatious comments. “Right away, Mam.” And he went about preparing the martini for Carmen.
Joan ground her teeth at the sight. She really didn’t like leaving Carmen alone with Dante but…she had no choice. They had to find out what the hell was going on at Cornelia Street Café.
Joan and Alan bundled up, left Dullahan’s, and made their way down the sidewalk towards Cornelia Street Café. The café was only a few blocks away. Just as Carmen had claimed the line was two blocks long! Cornelia Street Café was not a large establishment and couldn’t handle the sudden flood of customers. Despite the freezing cold weather the customers seemed okay with waiting outside in the cold.
Joan was not a very patient person, however. “Come on. We’re cutting.” She announced as she grabbed Alan’s arm and began to drag him towards the front of the line while keeping to the shadows of the nearby buildings.
Joan pulled Alan out of the shadows once they’d reached the front of the line where several young women were standing. Dilemma. Joan frowned, tapped her chin and had a sudden idea. “Hey! Look over there! Isn’t that Gilebert?” Joan’s eyes widened and she pointed behind the young women’s shoulders with a dramatic flourish.
“What? Where? Where’s Gilebert?” “Gilebert? He’s outside?” “Where is he?” The girls instantly turned to look in the direction Joan had pointed, and began to frantically search for any sign of Gilebert.
Success. Joan smirked triumphantly as she pulled Alan inside of the café. There was only one table available and they quickly took a seat. The duo raised their menus in front of their faces so that they could spy on the café and more importantly on Gilebert.
The café had been decorated for Christmas as well, but the decorations were nowhere near as impressive as Dullahan’s. Joan looked around the café and at its decorations curiously. After that she looked behind the bar counter to see what Gilebert was up to and her jaw dropped. Ehhh?!
Gilebert was currently shirtless and was wearing a red and white Santa hat on the top of his head. A black bow tie was around his neck and he was wearing a pair of tight, red leather pants. His curly brown hair had been pulled back into a ponytail. He seemed to be exuding sensuality and eroticism. He was a sexy meat popsicle. Yum.
Alan was also looking at Gilebert in shock. He’d never seen the guy before and had to admit that he was very handsome. Gilebert was tall and his impressive, muscular torso was currently on display. He had sun-kissed skin even though it was the dead of winter. Gilebe
rt had shoulder length, curly brown hair that was tied back into a ponytail and golden eyes similar to Dante’s. The barista had a square jaw, a dimple in his chin, stubble along his jaw, and a barely there goatee.
The barista looked like a warrior with all those muscles or a bodybuilder. Alan was almost as tall as Gilebert but nowhere near as muscled. Alan was more lithe - almost lanky, but he had been working out lately. Still, he had to admit that Gilebert definitely beat him in the looks department at the moment. So…that’s Gilebert. Kim’s boyfriend. Alan pouted. I don’t stand a chance against him…in more ways than one.
“What the hell does Gilebert think he’s doing?” Joan leaned over the table and hissed at Alan in a low voice. “I can’t believe he’s actually shirtless! It’s winter! Like what the hell? This isn’t Hawaii. That’s playing dirty…using those muscles to steal all our female clientele.” Joan began to grind her teeth together in an irate fashion.
“Yea.” Alan let out a defeated sigh.
A competitive glint came to Joan’s green eyes. “We should go back to Dullahan’s and tell Dante to take his shirt off. I’m sure Dante has more muscles than this guy!” After all he’s a Great Duke of a Hell and a warrior! “And besides, Dante is much handsomer.”
Alan tilted his head to the side. “I’d say they’re about the same build. Wait, what? Did you just say you want Dante to take his shirt off, and that Dante is handsome?”
Joan’s cheeks turned pink. “You’re totally taking that out of context, Alan.”
Alan smiled in amusement and suddenly he felt like laughing. Joan likes Dante doesn’t she? “Well, it’s a good idea but I doubt Dante will go for it. Besides…” Alan looked around the café and noticed that several men were also at the café and looking at Gilebert with obvious admiration in their eyes. That was kind of…weird. There wasn’t anything wrong with being gay or anything, but it wasn’t that common. And most men weren’t so open about it if they were gay.
Alan shuddered at the very thought of being attracted to Gilebert. Even though Alan was often accused of being gay because of his interest in girlie hobbies, he liked women. This Gilebert was no ordinary guy to so easily attract men as well. He wasn’t…normal. He must be pulling some kind of trick. Alan thought. There was also something about Gilebert that rubbed Alan the wrong way. He immediately didn’t trust him. “Gilebert has also managed to steal away our male clientele.” Alan motioned to the left with a nod of his chin.
Joan looked around the café and realized with surprise that Alan was right about that observation. “Oh my God, you’re right…that’s so…weird.” Amusement twinkled in Joan’s green eyes. “I’ve seen some of these guys at Dullahan’s ogling Kim so I know they’re not gay. What the hell is going on? It’s like he has everyone here under some kind of love spell or something?”
Alan shrugged. “Everyone except for us, Thank God.”
“Yea, well, two can play at that game. Alan, what if you made some sexy outfits for Carmen, Kim and I to wear? And an outfit for Dante of course. Then Carmen, Kim and I will go outside and roast chestnuts on the sidewalk to attract customers using the portable grill. What do you think? We’ll fight fire with fire. Sexiness versus sexiness!” Joan loved a challenge and could get very competitive.
Alan thought about Joan’s idea. His artistic mind was immediately able to picture the girls in sexy holiday outfits. Kim would look gorgeous, and delectable in a short red and white Santa girl dress. Her long blonde hair would be cascading over her shoulders in waves. Her lovely, fair skin would finally be on display. Alan felt like he hadn’t seen Kim’s skin on display for like ever. He secretly had copies of the magazines she’d modeled for and even had a picture of Kim in a swimsuit but…the real thing was so much better.
Alan could make a cute elf girl outfit for Joan and a sexy elf girl outfit for Carmen. More visual images filled his creative mind. He swallowed thickly, aroused. “Yea…I think it will work, Joan. You’re a genius.”
Joan’s expression turned smug. “I know.”
The duo was about to leave when a waitress came to take their orders. They decided they might as well try the eggnog cappuccino to see if it was better than Dante’s, so they ordered two. They watched as Gilebert made their cappuccinos. The barista added eggnog and rum, and the process didn’t look much different to how Dante made his eggnog cappuccino. Gilebert set the cappuccinos on a tray and the waitress went over to retrieve them. Gilebert looked up and noticed Joan and Alan staring at him and offered them a sexy smile showing off his gleaming white teeth.
Joan narrowed her eyes at Gilebert. That smile…there was something oddly familiar about it. A strange feeling of déjà vu washed over Joan and it creeped her out. That was weird.
Alan blushed and looked away, embarrassed. What the hell? That jerk, smiling at him like that unsettled him.
Gilebert’s smile faltered at Joan and Alan’s strange reactions. (Really, no human should be able to resist his charms). He looked at Alan more closely, and recognition flashed in his eyes.
The waitress set the cappuccinos down in front of them. Joan picked up her cup, blew on it, and took a sip. Alan did the same. “It’s just…normal. It’s definitely not better than Dante’s, that’s for sure. What do you think, Alan?”
“Yea, it’s nothing special.” Alan readily agreed.
“Nothing special? That’s a bit harsh don’t you think?” Came a drawling voice with a thick French accent.
Joan and Alan gasped when they realized Gilebert was standing at their table.
“Gilebert.” Joan breathed.
“That’s me.” Gilebert nodded and narrowed his eyes at Joan and then Alan. “And you must be Joan and Alan.”
Joan and Alan both shared a surprised look that Gilebert knew who they were.
“Forgive me, but Kim talks about you both all the time so I was able to recognize you. So…you two are here spying on the competition? Am I right?” Gilbert didn’t sound angry, merely amused.
“No.” Alan immediately blurted, flushed, and embarrassed.
“Yes.” Joan said, a steely glint in her green eyes.
Gilebert raised an eyebrow at Joan’s straightforwardness and chuckled in enjoyment. “Don’t look so nervous, Alan. I don’t mind. It’s only wise to spy on your competition. You might learn something after all. But…you won’t win. Today all the Christmas clientele will be mine. And I’ll prove to Kim just who the better man is, Alan.”
“I-I wait, what?” Alan asked and his brow furrowed at the barista’s strange words.
“It’s become bothersome how Kim goes on and on about you, Alan.” Gilebert sneered at the young pub owner. “I need to erase you from her mind. Show her how insignificant you are. I am the better man. And after today she’ll see that and forget all about you. Kim belongs to me.”
Alan opened his mouth to speak but Joan beat him to it. “Kim doesn’t belong to anyone, buddy.” Joan’s feminist blood was boiling. She slammed her hands on the table and stood up. “And Alan will beat you at your own game. You’ll see!”
Gilebert raised an eyebrow at Alan and his lip curled back in distain. “Beat me at my own game? I highly doubt it.” He looked Alan over with a look of disgust on his face. “There’s no contest, really.”
Alan stiffened in his seat. Wow, this guy really managed to rub him the wrong way. He felt like standing up and punching Gilebert right in the face. Alan was surprised by his own violent thoughts and instead clenched his hands into fists on his lap beneath the table.
Joan abruptly grabbed Alan’s arm and pulled him up from his chair. “Come on, Alan. We’re leaving this joint!”
“Ah, but Joan! Wait!” Alan reached into his wallet and quickly placed a twenty-dollar bill on the table before Joan dragged him out the door of the café.
Joan was fuming, steaming. “Grrrr! That sexist jerk! Treating Kim like his property! We need to teach that jerk a lesson, Alan.” She was giving Alan an intense look.
Alan met her determined stare and nodded. “Sure. But what about Kim?”
Joan rolled her eyes. “What about her? Gilebert challenged you, Alan. Are you going to back down from that?”
Alan straightened. “No.”
“Good.” Joan looked both pleased and surprised. “You know what Alan? You’ve changed. And for the better.”
Alan couldn’t stop the goofy smile that formed on his face at the compliment. He knew why he’d changed - it was all thanks to Dante and their self-defense lessons. He felt stronger now, more confident.
When Joan and Alan arrived back at Dullahan’s they stripped off their wet jackets and hung them on the hooks by the door. “Hey guys,” Joan greeted the others.
“Joan, how did it go? What’s Gilebert up to?” Kim asked curiously as she approached her friend.
“Your boyfriend is a narcissistic jerk who likes to fight dirty.” Joan began to rant. “He’s over there in his café with his shirt off, putting his muscles on display, and flexing his biceps like he’s some kind of professional bodybuilder trying to win a contest!”
Kim’s jaw dropped. “He’s what?”
Joan stalked up to the bar and looked at Dante directly in his golden eyes. She pointed a finger at him. “We need to fight fire with fire. Strip!” She demanded in an imperious manner.
Dante’s brows rose to his hair line and he gave Joan an astonished look. He was surprised and kind of annoyed with Joan’s sudden boldness. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious. Strip Dante. Show off your muscles. That way they’ll actually be good for something.” Joan continued and there was an odd tinge of bitterness in her tone.
Dante’s eyes narrowed. Joan had no right to treat him this way. He’d only ever been kind to the female and had even decided to stay away from her for her own good. “No. I will not show off my body to a bunch of inferior human women!” Dante snapped. Bloody hell.
Inferior human women? That jerk. Joan glared at Dante with her hands on her hips. “You’re useless.”
Useless? Joan’s insult hurt. Dante just glared back and lightning seemed to flash between their gazes.
Alan decided to step in and try to break up the strange argument. “Er…Dante you don’t have to strip. But would you be adverse to wearing a Santa hat?”
“Santa hat?” Dante questioned, his attention shifting to his boss.
Alan waved his hand at the life-size Santa doll. “Like his, you know, a Santa hat?”
“Oh, yes, of course. A Santa hat. I…” Dante thought about the request and sighed. It was better than having to strip! “Alright, Boss. I’ll wear it.”
Alan whooped in triumph. “Great. And I’ll make some festive costumes for the girls to wear. That was Joan’s idea by the way.”
Joan nodded and crossed her arms over her chest as she tried to contain her anger towards Dante. She didn’t know why she was angry with him all of a sudden. It wasn’t like he had done anything wrong. Well, except for completely ignoring her after that kiss they had shared. That electric, sizzling kiss that kept her awake at night.
“Ooo that sounds interesting.” Carmen sashayed over to the group. “I want something very revealing, Alan. That should definitely help your cause. Something like a bikini top and a mini skirt.” She winked. “Let’s see if this Gilebert can truly compete with my…sex appeal. Though I highly doubt it.”
“Alright, Carmen.” Alan made a mental note to make Carmen’s elf costume revealing.
“Festive costumes?” Kim echoed, looking unsure all of a sudden. “Do we have to?”
Joan draped her arm around Kim’s shoulders. “We’re lucky we have an actual supermodel in our midst! This is going to be great.”
“Uh, yea.” Kim agreed, somewhat unsurely.
“Don’t worry, Kim, I’ll make you something that you’ll look beautiful in.” Alan assured her, excited to have his fantasy of Kim in a red Santa girl dress come true. She is going to look so hot. “You’re going to love it.”
“Yea. I’m sure I will.” Kim agreed and no one seemed to notice that her eyes were darting towards the front door as if she wished to flee.
“Make my outfit conservative. You know how I like to dress.” Joan told Alan and reached out to ruffle her boss’ hair.
“Got it.” Alan saluted Joan before he headed upstairs to his room and began to quickly sew the girls their costumes. It only took Alan an hour to make the three costumes for the girls and a Santa hat for Dante. He returned to the main restaurant area with the costumes in his arms. He handed Carmen her costume first, then handed Joan hers, and lastly handed Kim her Santa dress. Carmen held up her green and gold bikini top and grinned. “Oh, this is perfect. The human men won’t be able to resist me!” She skipped off to the bathroom to change.
Did she just say ‘human men’? The people who work here are so weird. Joan lifted up her elf girl dress with its long, draping, belled sleeves and grinned. “It’s perfect Alan.” She was about to head to the bathroom to change, however-
When Kim lifted up the strapless red and white Santa dress her expression darkened. “Wait…what the hell is this supposed to be, Alan?”
Joan stopped in her tracks and turned around curiously to see what all the fuss was about.
Alan blinked, “A Santa girl costume?”
A muscle ticked beneath Kim’s eye. “Why does it have to be so…slutty? Do you think I’m a slut, Alan? That I like to parade around in skimpy outfits showing off my body? You don’t respect me at all do you, Alan?” She demanded hotly and her amber colored eyes were blazing.
“Uh…” Alan faltered, as he took a step back, not sure how to respond. Is this a trick question? Kim was a swimsuit model after all. Of course she enjoyed prancing around in skimpy outfits and showing off her body, right? But Kim had sounded hurt, offended even - like Alan had somehow betrayed her. This hurt him. Alan had only wanted to make Kim happy and he’d failed. He decided to apologize even if he didn’t know what he was apologizing for. “I’m sorry I-”
Joan was equally confused by Kim’s strange reaction. She knew Kim. Had been friends with her since high school! Kim was very confident in her appearance and proud of her body that she went through so much work to take care of. Kim dieted religiously and went to the gym five times a week! So, of course, Kim loved to show off her perfect body with revealing clothing. Kim loved being a supermodel, loved the attention her gorgeous body got her, so what the hell had changed? Kim wasn’t acting like her usual showy, confident, brazen self at all. Something must have happened. But what? Joan decided that she’d get to the bottom of this mystery as well.
Joan cut off Alan’s apology. “Ah…is that a Santa girl costume? Er, Kim would you mind dressing as an elf instead? I…really want to dress like a Santa girl.” Joan tried to sound excited but her voice sounded strained instead. Her supposed excitement at the prospect of dressing in a slutty red Santa girl dress was obviously a ruse.
Everyone was stunned into silence, not really getting what was going on. Dante was looking at Joan as if she’d grown a second head. Joan had been extremely clear with Alan that she wanted a conservative outfit. Joan was a feminist and didn’t believe in wearing skirts! Alan allowed Joan to waitress in pants or jeans, and this is one of the reasons why Joan enjoyed working there. Other bars and restaurants wanted their waitresses in short skirts at all times. Will Joan really put on that skimpy Santa girl costume? Dante wondered, anticipation thrumming through his veins at the prospect.
Alan was also looking at Joan quizzically. She sounded falsely excited by the prospect of wearing the Santa girl costume. Her words were like another dagger to his heart. What the hell is going on? Something is my fault but I can’t figure out what I did wrong. Alan reached into his pants’ pocket and wrapped his hand around his inhaler, just in case.
Joan offered Kim the elf dress and handed it to her. Kim was looking at Joan as if she were her savior. Her expression w
as very emotional, and her eyes were glistening slightly as if she were trying to hold back tears. “Joan…sure, I’ll wear the elf costume instead.”
The two girls swapped costumes. “Thanks.” Joan said and tried to look happy.
Alan bit his lower lip. He wanted to ask Kim what was wrong? What was she hiding? But…he decided to keep his mouth shut. Joan had obviously wanted to protect Kim from ‘something’. He felt out of the loop. “Joan, if you want I can make you another outfit-” Alan began, graciously.
Joan waved her hand through the air, cutting him off. “No, didn’t I already say that I want to wear the Santa girl costume instead?” She said unshakably. “I’m so glad Kim is letting me. Besides, you still have to make Fred and Hilda their Mr. and Mrs. Claus costumes.” She grabbed Kim’s arm with a smile plastered on her face. “Let’s go change, Kim!”
“Okay.” Kim agreed, keeping her head down so that her bangs were shielding her expression.
The three young women changed into their festive costumes, and then made their way back into the main restaurant area from the girl’s bathroom. The few customers seated around Dullahan’s ‘oohed’ and ‘ahhed’ at the sight of the girls in costume. Kim was dressed in the elf girl costume - a green and red, knee-length dress with belled sleeves. At the very end of the sleeves was a tiny gold bell. A pair of green leggings hugged Kim’s shapely legs and on her feet there were a pair of red shoes with curled toes. A red and green cone-shaped hat sat on her head that flopped over to one side and had a bell on the end of it.
Alan thought she looked super cute. Cute wasn’t her usual look, but she pulled it off nicely. Alan looked Kim over and grinned. “You look adorable, Kim.”
Kim fidgeted with her hands clasped before her nervously but she looked up at Alan’s words. A pink tinge came to her cheeks and she looked surprised by Alan’s kind words. She’d been such a jerk to him earlier. “Er, thanks. Look, Alan, I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier, I-”
But Alan cut her off. “Naw, don’t worry about.”
Again Kim seemed taken aback by how easily Alan was forgiving her.
Joan shyly stepped out from behind Kim. “I bet I look ridiculous. The top of the dress had too much room and Kim had to use like a hundred safety pins to fix it. I don’t have the boobs to wear something like this.” She complained.
Dante’s gaze zeroed in on Joan and he drank in the sight of her like a man dying of thirst. Wow. He’d never seen Joan showing so much skin. And that short, red dress really showed off Joan’s long, nicely toned legs that seemed to just go on forever and ever. The dress was strapless, and the collar was decorated with white fur. The bottom of the dress was also decorated with white fur. She had on red gloves that went up to her elbows, and the tops of the gloves had been decorated with white fur. A Santa hat sat upon her head. Joan was flushed from her embarrassment, only adding to her femininity.
Dante could feel his blood heating. “Gorgeous.” He complimented in a husky voice. The demon didn’t really realize that he’d said that out loud either. He was supposed to be distancing himself from Joan after all, not admitting that he found her attractive.
Startled, Joan’s green eyes focused on Dante. Did that demon just call her gorgeous? No way. Joan turned even redder and tugged at the bottom of the dress self-consciously. Why had Alan made this thing so short? Well, obviously he’d wanted to see Kim in this thing, so she couldn’t really blame her boss.
“You gentlemen have seen nothing yet!” Came a sultry female voice with a Spanish accent.
All eyes turned to Carmen. She was wearing an elf girl costume that consisted of a skimpy green and gold bikini top, and a short, dark green mini skirt. Plenty of the Latin beauty’s olive-hued skin was on display. There was a thick, black belt with an over-sized, golden buckle around her waist. A green Santa hat with a white fur ball on its end sat on her head. And a pair of cute elf shoes with curled toes were on her feet. Her flat stomach was on display and the mini skirt showed off her toned legs. Her boobs seemed to bounce as Carmen crossed her arms under her chest on purpose. “Well, what do you all think?”
Va Va Va Voom. Alan could feel himself getting aroused at the sight of the scantily clad Carmen, but he didn’t even like her romantically. He shifted awkwardly on his feet, confused by his body’s reaction. Apparently, she just had that effect on his body. “Wow.” Alan murmured.
Carmen looked pleased by Alan’s innocent reaction. She sauntered up to him and stroked Alan’s cheek, making his entire body tremble. “Sweet boy.”
Kim gawked at Carmen’s risqué outfit. Like oh my God. What the hell? “More like pervert boy. Alan…I can’t believe you made Carmen an outfit like that! So you wanted to see her in next to nothing, did you? Hmph! Pervert! And I thought better of you…” The supermodel shook her head with a disappointed look on her face.
No, the one I wanted to see in next to nothing was you. Alan thought to himself. Then he began to turn red as he realized that Kim had just called him a pervert. Me? A pervert? No way. “P-Pervert? No…it’s not like that. Kim, I- Carmen wanted an outfit like that. She asked me to make it like that. I swear!” Alan begged, willing Kim to understand. He didn’t like the thought of Kim thinking he was some kind of degenerate.
“Hmph! I don’t believe you!” Kim said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Carmen laughed and her laughter was musical, like ringing Christmas bells. She turned her attention to Dante, sashayed over to the bar, slid onto one of the barstools, and crossed her legs. “How about you, Dante? What do you think of my new outfit?”
Dante had been polishing a glass as he tried not to look at Joan. He looked up and met Carmen’s eyes. He glanced down and his eyes widened slightly at the outfit Alan had made the pianist. Was Alan a closet-pervert or something? He’d have to have a little chat with Alan about this later. The demon quickly looked back up at her eyes. “You look…indecent.” Dante finally said after a short pause.
Joan snorted as she tried to hold back her laughter. Ha! Take that Carmen. Even Kim looked amused by Dante’s rather dry response.
Carmen pouted at the bartender’s coldness towards her. “Indecent or did you mean decadent?” She reached out, picked up a Maraschino cherry, popped it into her mouth, and chewed. “Mmm.” She moaned sensually.
“Save the act for outside. You girls are going to roast chestnuts, right?” Dante asked, strategically changing the subject. “Make sure to preheat your grill to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit. If the chestnuts are small enough to fall through the cooking grate, place them in a grill topper, Grill Wok, or in a pie tin with holes punched in the bottom. Otherwise, place the chestnuts directly on the cooking grate. Cooking time should roughly be fifteen minutes, but watch them carefully to prevent burning. Chestnuts should be turned or tossed around on the grill every five minutes so that they cook evenly and the shells do not burn excessively.” Dante began to recite the instructions he’d read online word for word.
“Act? My desire for you is no-” Carmen was saying when Joan cut her off with a clap of her hands.
“Yes! That’s right, Dante. Girls let’s go roast some chestnuts!” Joan urged as she put her arms around Carmen and Kim’s shoulders, and began to escort them towards the door.
Carmen pouted, looking put out, and tapped her bottom lip with her index finger. “Oh, alright.”
“‘Kay.” Kim easily agreed.
With Dante and Alan’s help the portable grill was carried outside and the girls began to roast chestnuts. The smell was divine. Nostalgic. It had stopped snowing and there was a layer of glittering snow upon the ground. It was still cold old but by standing close to the grill the girls were able to stay warm even while wearing their skimpy, festive costumes.
Joan had never felt more embarrassed or self-conscious in all her life. Sometimes when she dressed in a skirt - she even felt afraid, but not now. Dante was just inside of Dullahan’s and she knew that if she called out to him he
would be there in a second. The thought surprised her though. I shouldn’t count on a demon. He may help ‘Joan Simone’ but he would kill Jeanne d’Arc God’s Chosen Warrior. If he knew who I really was…he’d hate me. A frown formed on her face at the dour thought. If he knew the truth about me…would he be able to forgive me?
Joan looked over at her friend Kim who was now laughing and smiling with Carmen as they greeted customers, sold chestnuts, and ushered clients inside of the pub. The men who had been in line for Cornelia Street Café seemed to smell the roasting chestnuts and flocked towards Carmen like bees to honey. It was…odd. And a little similar to the phenomenon of Gilebert at Cornelia Street Café. Were Gilebert and Carmen such sensual people that they just had power over normal people? Was this normal? Were their pheromones just that strong? Joan mused.
Carmen seemed to be soaking up the attention - literally. Her skin looked like it was glowing.
In about an hour the line at Cornelia Street Café had decreased to half and it took one more hour for the line to go down completely. Word had spread from the other young ladies who’d already entered Dullahan’s that the stoic, serious Dante was actually wearing a Santa hat and a red bow tie.
Dullahan’s clientele seemed to be aware that Dante was not like Gilebert and would not be the type to take his shirt off. They all seemed pretty surprised that Dante was even wearing a Santa hat with a fuzzy white ball on the end. And they were definitely pleased by it - if their reaction was anything to go by. The female clients of Dullahan’s were snapping photos of Dante with their smart phones and others were taking photos of themselves with Dante in the background.
The girls were making such a fuss about it that Joan decided to go inside and take a quick look for herself. Joan entered Dullahan’s and her green eyes went to the bar where Dante was standing behind the bar and showing off his bartending skills by preparing several festive cocktails all at once. The green and red tinted glasses were decorated with mini candy canes, Maraschino cherries, and other tiny, festive, plastic decorations like mini Santas and reindeer. The Christmas cocktails looked amazing. Like tiny works of art.
As Dante poured the mixed drinks into a row of glasses the girls all cheered loudly for the handsome bartender. “Eeee! Dante!” “We love you!” “Merry Christmas Dante!” “Eeee, he looks so cute in that hat!” “I can’t believe he’s wearing it!”
There was a faint pink tinge to Dante’s cheeks as he let the women’s comments wash over him. Joan wondered if he were actually embarrassed by all of the attention. Naw. She had to admit though the stoic demon sort of looked…adorable in that hat. Thank you, Alan.
Dante could feel Joan’s eyes upon him. And now to show Joan that I’m the opposite of useless. Dante thought to himself as he set out ten shot glasses in a row down the bar. This drink works on the oil and water principle, each of these liquids has a different density. Dante grabbed a shaker, and a bottle of grenadine. He poured the grenadine into the shaker and then added a few cubes of ice. After that he grabbed the sweat and sour and added some to the shaker before adding a few more cubes of ice.
Then he added orange juice, and after that vodka. Now was the tricky part. The blue curasao’s density caused it to sink, so once added it was a race to start pouring. Dante added the blue curasao along the rim and put a strainer on top of the tin. He immediately began to pour the shots one after the other. The first shot was blue, the one after that green, the one after that yellow, and the ones after that were varying shades of yellow. The shots got darker in color and became orange. The last shots were pink and the very last one dark red.
“Ooo awesome! Rainbow shots!” “You the man Dante!” Various patrons cheered.
Joan was having a hard time not smiling. Okay, Dante, I’ll admit, that was pretty cool.
“See something you like?” Came Kim’s teasing voice from beside her.
Joan jumped and turned to her friend in surprise. “W-What? I don’t like Dante.” She immediately refuted.
“Pfft.” Kim snorted. “I think you may even be in love with him. I’ve never seen you so hung up on a guy before. Your eyes follow him all the time. Do you even realize that?”
“W-What? That’s crazy!” Joan immediately objected, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Kim’s words were true. Did her eyes follow Dante? She wondered if he noticed. That would be incredibly embarrassing.
Joan and Kim switched to waitressing tables inside of the pub now that it was full. Around five o’clock PM Carmen entered the pub, made her way over to the piano, and began to perform more holiday favorites.
Dullahan’s was once again packed. Alan smiled goofily to himself at the observation. If he didn’t know any better he’d say he’d ‘won’ the challenge Gilebert had given him. And he’d won it with the costumes he’d made. Although the outfit he’d designed for Kim hadn’t worked out. Instead he’d accidentally gotten Kim really mad at him. Alan frowned at the remembrance. And somehow he’d unwittingly insulted her. He hadn’t meant to do that at all. Stupid. Stupid. Alan thought to himself. Now Kim thought that he considered her a slut. So in a way maybe he’d lost the challenge to Gilebert after all. He just wanted Kim to be happy.
Kim felt a heated gaze on her and turned to catch Alan staring at her. Her brows rose and Alan blushed before quickly turning away from Kim. He was clearly flustered that he’d been caught staring at her. Alan ran right smack into the Santa doll and fell on top of it with a crash.
“Alan!” Kim quickly made her way over to his side. She crouched next to him. “You okay?”
Alan groaned, and didn’t want to raise his head to look at Kim. This was humiliating. Stupid, stupid. “Yea.”
Kim helped Alan to stand. “Kim I-” Alan began, however-
“Well, look what we have here?” Came a drawling, French accented voice.
“Eeee! It’s Gilebert!” Several female patrons exclaimed in excitement. Gilebert was still shirtless and exuding pheromones. Gilebert looked over at Dante and noted the Santa hat that was on top of the demon’s head. After that he noticed Carmen dressed as a sexy elf. “I see…you have some powerful allies, Alan Dullahan. Unexpected allies indeed.” He acknowledged with a slight nod.
Carmen’s eyes widened as she looked at Gilebert. “He’s like me.” She muttered darkly to herself.
Gilebert strode towards Alan with purposeful steps. “I believe you’ve won this challenge. But you haven’t won the war, if you know what I mean?” His attention turned to Kim, his expression confident. He put out his hand. “Come along, Kim. It’s time to go.”
Kim took a step towards Gilebert before she stopped, and clenched her hands into fists at her sides. Her entire body was trembling, resisting his pull and allure with all of her strength and mental willpower. “No.” She said softly.
Gilebert’s golden eyes narrowed at Kim fiercely. “What?”
Kim lifted her chin in defiance. She may have been afraid of Gilebert, but it was about time she stood her ground. Being surrounded by all her friends gave Kim strength to do what she was about to do. “I said ‘no’. I’m sorry Gilebert, but I’m not going with you. It’s over between us.”
Gilebert blinked at Kim in disbelief. He dug his nails into his palms as he tried to keep his temper under control. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Kim, you must obey me. You belong to me.”
“Kim doesn’t belong to anyone!” Joan spoke up as she had before. The waitress approached her best friend and stood beside her with her hands on her hips, green eyes flashing. “I already told you, buddy.”
“Kim.” Gilebert ignored Joan and his voice was full of dark warnings.
Kim shuddered but she continued to stand her ground. “Go.”
“I will not.” Gilebert was saying until Dante was suddenly standing in front of Gilebert and blocking Kim from view.
“I believe the young lady asked you to leave.” Dante rumbled in a rough voice.
Gilebert raised an eyebrow at
Dante. “Lady? I don’t see any ladies around here.”
Dante punched Gilebert hard across the face. Gilebert’s head snapped to the side and he staggered backwards a few steps. Several gasps resounded throughout the pub. Dante was already raising his fist for a second attack but Alan placed a hand on Dante’s arm to stop him. “Dante.”
Dante lowered his fist.
Gilebert raised his hand and wiped the blood from his mouth. He looked down at the blood on his fingers with a look of horror. “You punched me. You actually punched me. Oh, you’ll pay for this…Dante.” Gilebert began to approach Dante but that’s when he noticed that Carmen had stood up from her piano chair and was giving him a rather murderous look. Gilebert stopped in his tracks. Bloody hell. There were too many people against him at the moment. Better to leave and cut his loses for the time being, he decided.
Gilebert’s golden eyes locked with Kim’s amber-colored eyes. “You’ll regret this, Kim.” He said lowly before turning on his heel and stomping out of the pub. He slammed the door behind him so hard that the door rattled in its frame.
Dante didn’t like that threat to Kim one bit, and wanted to go after him, but Alan’s arm was still on his arm stopping him. Blazes!
Kim’s strength suddenly left her and she ended up sinking to her knees. “I did it…I can’t believe I did it. I actually broke up with him.” She began to laugh brokenly, almost hysterically.
“Kim.” Concerned, Alan made his way over to Kim and knelt by her side. He placed his hand on her back and stroked her back in order to soothe her.
Kim turned to look at Alan with watery eyes. “Oh, Alan…hold me.” She pleaded before flinging her arms around Alan’s neck and burying her face in his chest.
Alan looked floored but after a moment he wrapped his arms gently around Kim. He treated her preciously, like glass, as if she would break. Kim loved that.
Worry and confusion swirled in Alan’s blue eyes. He still didn’t really get what was going on. Why had Kim broken up with Gilebert? It just didn’t make any sense. Why would she want to give up a handsome man like that? Why would she have let him go?
Alan wanted to know what had happened between them, but he also didn’t want to ruin this moment. Carmen looked pleased as she watched Alan comforting Kim. “Thank God she broke up with that jerk.”
Joan was also pleased that Kim had broken up with Gilebert. The guy had given her the creeps for some reason. But she was also confused and curious about why her friend had decided to finally break up with him.
Dante was stiff as he tried to contain his anger. Every fiber of his being wanted him to go after Gilebert and beat the man into a pulp. But his loyalty to Alan was holding him back. Nonviolent. I must handle things in a nonviolent manner.
***
Later that evening, Joan returned to her apartment in high spirits and Michael was there waiting for her. “Joan! Thank God you’re finally home! Your Demon Detector has been going off like crazy! You need to hurry up and transform. We need to go and slay those lesser demons immediately!” The Archangel insisted.
Joan let out a heavy sigh. As if she needed more on her plate to deal with. “Yea, yea.” She made her way into her bedroom and saw that her Demon Detector aka her silver cross - was indeed glowing, pulsing with a golden light. There were lesser demons nearby. Joan picked up the cross and put it around her neck. She struck a pose. “Transform! Jeanne d’Arc!” Joan cried and she transformed.
Brilliant, gleaming, golden armor formed on her body consisting of an ornate chest-plate, a metal skirt with spikes on it, arm bracers, and greaves. Her armor was decorated with the images of crosses. Her holy sword appeared strapped to her waist. Though her sword was not the one she’d used to seal Dante to that fig tree, it was just as powerful and had also been given to her by God.
In this form she was invisible to humans unless she wanted them to see her. Joan strode over to the windowed balcony doors and threw them open. Michael moved past Joan and onto the balcony where he quickly transformed too. The golden retriever increased in size until he was six hundred pounds and a pair of white, feathery wings emerged from his back. Joan soon followed and mounted the gigantic dog. She grabbed onto the fur of his neck and held on tight. “Alright, let’s go!” Joan said.
“About time.” Michael huffed as he stretched his wings, flapped them, and took off into the sky. They soared over her balcony, over the streets, speeding cars, buildings and skyscrapers. Joan’s Demon Detector would flash and glow more brightly when a lesser demon was near. That’s when Michael would swoop down and land close by so that Joan could unsheathe her holy sword and dispatch the lesser demon. She was even able to slay demons that had already possessed human beings. She merely would stab her sword through the human, and her sword would only affect the demon that was inside of the human, destroying it completely.
Joan noted that there were even more lesser demons around than usual. Perhaps, a gate had been opened. They needed to find the demon who was responsible for this and kill him or her before things got even more out of control.
Joan wondered for like the hundredth time if the demon responsible for this was Dante. But…she didn’t really want to know because she had the feeling that when she found out the truth that she’d have to kill Dante.
At that moment, Joan’s Demon Detector flashed rapidly with a gold light. Joan peered down over Michael’s shoulder to see if she could spot the lesser demon. What she did spot was Kim’s apartment building. Joan’s stomach flip-flopped. No, no, no. Kim couldn’t be in trouble. But Joan had a bad feeling about this. There were rarely such things as coincidence in her line of work.
“Michael. Take me down to Kim’s balcony.” Joan ordered.
“Right.” The guardian dog flew down and landed on Kim’s balcony.
Joan hopped off Michael’s back and made her way to the double doors. They were locked, but Joan just raised her armored boot and kicked the doors in. She entered Kim’s bedroom and could see residual demonic energy - it was everywhere. Crap. “Kim…” A demon had obviously been inside of her room and there appeared to have been a struggle.
Joan spotted a broken lamp on the floor and Kim’s dresser had been overturned. There were claw marks on the walls, claw marks on a pillow that had been ripped open, and feathers were everywhere. It appeared as if Kim had tried to use the pillow as a makeshift shield at some point. And there was blood. Blood on the mattress, floor, and splattered on the walls.
Joan saw red. She only knew of one demon in New York City and that was Dante. That jerk! He’s kidnapped Kim! But why? He’d probably discovered that Joan was actually Jeanne d’Arc and was out for revenge. He’d probably kidnapped Kim to lure Joan to him. Well, if it was a fight he wanted - it was a fight he was going to get! How dare he take Kim! Oh, he’s going to pay for this. Joan stomped out of the bedroom and made her way out onto the balcony. Her expression was grim.
“What is it?” Michael asked, concernedly, noticing her murderous look. “Where’s Kim?”
“Dantalion has her.” Joan revealed darkly as she hopped onto Michael’s back.
“Dantalion? Dantalion! He’s alive? Here in the city? What’s going on, Joan?” Michael demanded and his tone had taken on an accusatory edge.
Joan flinched, and guilt swirled inside of her chest. “It’s a long story, Michael. But…we’re going to go get Kim back first. Let’s go. His place is that way.” Joan pointed in the direction of Dante’s apartment.
“You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady.” Michael said, not letting Joan off the hook just yet.
Joan sighed. “I know. But first we find Kim.” Joan was determined. Michael nodded before he took off into the sky. She directed Michael to Dante’s apartment building and then to his apartment’s balcony. They landed. “Wait here.” She hopped off of Michael and approached the double doors. She kicked them open and strode inside.
Joan made her way over to Dante’s bed. The demon was fa
st asleep beneath his black, silk sheets without a care in the world it seemed. The jerk. What the hell had he done with Kim? Part of the sheet had slipped down his chest to reveal a nice glimpse of his pale, muscled chest.
He really was beautiful. This only made it harder. Joan was boiling with rage. Had Dante already killed her friend? Joan unsheathed her holy sword and held it out before her. She raised it over Dante’s neck. “Dante!” Joan cried angrily as she swung her sword down through the air.
Dante had always been a light sleeper. In Hell it was not unusual for assassins to enter his castle in the middle of the night and try to take his head. If they managed it that would make them the new Duke of his lands and they’d have gained control of the legions under his command. So his well-honed battle reflexes and survival instincts saved him in that moment. He rolled to the side and just narrowly avoided getting his head chopped off.
Dante’s eyes snapped open. He was on his back again and he turned his head to look at who had dared to try and kill him! What he saw made his breath catch in his throat. No way. He must still be dreaming. “Jeanne?”
A woman with short hair, green eyes, and who was dressed in achingly familiar shinning, golden armor with a glowing sword in her hands stood next to his bed.
His heart clenched painfully inside of his chest at the sight.
But then ‘Jeanne’ turned her head to look at him and he saw that the woman’s face was different. Though those haunting green eyes were the same. “Joan?” Joan the waitress? What the hell is going on? Am I dreaming?
Joan pulled her sword out of the pillow she’d just killed. A few feathers floated up into the air. She turned her fierce gaze on Dante and her eyes narrowed. “Jerk. Where the hell is Kim? What have you done with her, you filthy demon!” Joan leapt up onto the bed and attacked Dante again, sword flashing.
Dante rolled off the bed agilely and stood. “Kim? I haven’t seen her since I left Dullahan’s earlier this evening.”
“Liar!” Joan leapt off the bed and brought her sword down upon Dante in a double-handed downward slash. “Hah!”
Dante easily sidestepped the attack. He had his hands up before him in a surrendering gesture. “I never lie. You know that…Jeanne.”
Joan paused and glared at Dante heatedly, fiercely. She was panting for breath. “Then…where is she? At her apartment a demon’s essence was everywhere. And the blood…! A demon has taken her!” Joan exclaimed and fear crawled up her spine.
Joan’s fear for her friend’s well-being gave Dante power. As power began to course through him, horns sprouted out of his head, his incisors lengthened, and a red aura flared around him. “I will locate this demon, and take you to him and to Kim. You have given me enough power to be able to do that now.” A tiny smirk formed on the bartender’s mouth.
Joan gave Dante a skeptical look, untrusting. “What if you’re lying and leading me into a trap?”
Dante was hurt by Joan’s lack of trust. If anyone should be distrusting of anyone it was him. Jeanne had betrayed him - not the other way around! “I’m not. I do not lie, as you know. And…besides, shouldn’t Kim be your priority right now? I’m willing to set aside our differences for Kim’s sake and you should be willing to do the same. After we find and save Kim…you and I have a lot to discuss, Jeanne d’Arc.”
Joan flinched at Dante’s cutting words. Dante was right. Kim should be her priority not her conflicting feelings towards Dante. And if Dante really didn’t have Kim then…she had to find her friend ASAP. Joan sighed. “You’re right. Let’s call a truce for now, Dante. After we save Kim though…we will ‘talk’.”
Dante nodded, expression grim. “Indeed, we shall. Allow me a moment to get dressed.”
“Hurry the hell up.” Joan huffed.
Dante went over to his closet and opened the door. He peered inside and realized he only owned bartending suits. He’d never realized that before. Apparently, he took his new profession very seriously. Dante quickly dressed and stepped out from behind the closet door.
Joan raised an eyebrow at what Dante was wearing. “We’re not going to work, you know.”
Dante’s cheeks flushed slightly. He didn’t blush. “I know. I have no other clothes. Let’s go.” Dante rumbled, as he strode past Joan and made his way out onto his balcony where he came face to face with a gigantic, winged, golden retriever. The beast was enormous. What the hell? Dante’s fingers twitched and he ached to summon his great sword.
The dog’s golden-brown eyes widened in shock and recognition as they landed on Dante. “D-Dantalion! He’s alive! Joan! Kill him!”
Dante’s eyes narrowed at the dog. That voice was awfully familiar. “Michael?” Michael was one of God’s Elite Archangels if Dante recalled correctly, and had been the one to put him under the spell that had placed him in a state of enchanted sleep for centuries while he’d been sealed to that God-forsaken fig tree. “Michael.” Dante growled, his voice full of hatred as he remembered the way the Archangel had looked at Jeanne those centuries ago.
Michael blinked. “You remember me?”
“I don’t forget those I have vowed to kill.” Dante proclaimed.
The dog stiffened at Dante’s words and his lips curled back to reveal his sharp teeth as he growled low in his throat.
Joan walked by and hit Michael on the head. “Michael. We don’t have time for this. Dante didn’t have Kim. Some other demon has taken her. Dante will lead us to him.” Joan quickly explained as she hopped onto the dog’s back and gripped his fur.
“Another demon? There are more of these God-forsaken creatures here? Hellfire!” Michael swore.
Dante ignored the Archangel and strode towards the edge of his balcony. He summoned his wings and two black, leathery wings emerged from his back. With a few flaps Dante took off into the air. Dante closed his eyes as he concentrated on summoning his demonic power. He reached out his now super keen senses and searched for any sign of another demon - a demon’s energy signature to be precise. He reached his senses out further, all across the city. That’s when he found him.
There was a powerful, demonic energy signature! And the demon’s presence was somewhat…familiar. Dante’s eyes snapped opened. “I found him! This way!” Dante called out as he took off, heading in the direction that the demon’s presence could be sensed.
Michael and Joan were right behind him. Dante flew swiftly over streets, moving cars, and skyscrapers. The group approached an impressive, luxury apartment building and Dante flew up the side of the tall building heading for the top floor.
Dante landed on a large balcony, and willed his wings to disappear into his back. He waited for Joan before he would make his next move. He breathed in deep and could smell blood. Human blood. Kim’s blood. Blazes! If Kim were dead, Joan would be distraught.
Michael landed on the balcony and Joan dismounted. In his current size Michael would not have been able to fit through the balcony doors, and so he returned to his normal hundred pound golden retriever size.
“I smell Kim’s blood.” Dante informed Joan in a bleak tone.
Joan ground her teeth and nodded. “Let’s go inside.” She approached the double doors and used her holy sword to slice through the lock like a hot knife through golden butter. They silently and stealthily made their way inside the Master Bedroom.
With a thought, Dante turned on the lights inside of the bedroom. The bedroom was thankfully empty. A four-poster bed with a canopy and red silk sheets took up most of the space. Joan noticed the sex toys sitting on the night table, gasped, and placed a hand over her mouth at the sight. Whoever this demon was - he was a sicko.
Dante’s gaze roved the room and then spotted the portraits on the walls. His mouth thinned into a grim line. “Joan. Don’t look at the portraits.” Dante warned.
“What? Why not? I don’t have to listen to you, you demon!” Joan argued as she stubbornly looked at the portraits. She immediately felt bile rise up her throat at what those
portraits revealed. The paintings were of naked women in sensual poses, but their skin was covered in cuts and bruises. The bruises were awful - large blue and yellow and black, smudges on their skin. Several of the women had black eyes, split lips, and bruises on their bodies.
Joan swayed on her feet at the macabre sight. Dante reached out and placed his hand on her arm to steady her. Whoever they were dealing with was worse than sick and perverted. He was a psychopath. Kim…no, no, no. Where is Kim?
At that moment, they heard the sound of a TV on and then a male chuckle. Dante put a finger to his lips and motioned for Joan to follow him out of the bedroom, silently. She nodded in agreement.
Dante opened the bedroom door as quietly as possible, and made his way out into the hallway. Joan followed close behind him and Michael followed her. The Archangel’s over-protectiveness would have bothered Dante during normal circumstances, but having the dog there to watch Joan’s back at the moment wasn’t so bad. Those macabre portraits had also unsettled him. And he was a demon.
They made their way down the hallway and there were more creepy portraits of naked women on the walls. Joan shuddered. Dante had to resist the urge to reach out, wrap his arms around Joan, and soothe her.
Joan didn’t dare to look at the portraits again. What if she saw Kim on the wall? And what would that mean? That Kim was dead? That she’d been killed? What had happened to all those other poor girls? Joan felt sick at the thought.
At the end of the hall, the living room came into view. There was a huge, flat-screen TV currently showing a porno movie. The TV was surrounded by two comfortable looking, red leather couches, a couple of armchairs, and a low wooden table. Seated upon one of the couches, and stretched out comfortably was none other than Gilebert. He was still shirtless and dressed in those tight, red leather pants. Apparently, the guy liked the color red. Dante wondered if he should get a new favorite color. Maybe green. The Santa hat and bow tie were absent. Now Gilebert just looked…dangerous. He had a glass of red wine held in his one hand, which he was swirling absentmindedly. The pose reminded Dante of Lucifer for a moment and he shook his head of the memory.
Joan’s eyes widened when she saw the curved horns that were sticking out of Gilebert’s head. Further proof that he was what she suspected he was - a demon.
Gilebert’s eyes were glazed with lust, as he watched the screen avidly. Where the hell is Kim? Joan wondered, beginning to panic, as she looked around the living room.
A pained groan grabbed Joan’s attention and her gaze snapped to the wall. Joan sucked in a breath. There up on the wall was her friend Kim. She was dressed in a fancy, lacy, red bra and matching panties. A red choker was around her neck. Her body had been suspended on the wall by using a series of thick, wooden pegs that had been imbedded into the wall. Kim’s limbs had been draped over the pegs.
Thank God the pegs hadn’t been stabbed into Kim’s limbs at least. Joan sighed in relief and most of her fear fled her at the sight of her friend, alive and well for the most part. Kim’s body was covered in ugly bruises. She had a black eye, split lip, and dark blue and yellow bruises covered her hips. Joan tried not to note that the bruises looked like a man’s fingers had made them.
Kim! The truth about Kim’s odd behavior began to finally sink in. The reason why Kim had changed and grown unhappy with her relationship with Gilebert was suddenly clear. Why Kim had stopped wearing skimpy clothes. It had been to hide her bruises. And the reason Kim hadn’t left Gilebert was probably because she’d been afraid of him. And with good reason. The man was a demon and the worst kind! A demon who enjoyed, reveled in human suffering and pain. Joan could not hold herself back a second longer. “Kim!” She ran towards her friend.
“Don’t move. Or I will kill Kim with a flick of my wrist before you can even blink.” Gilebert droned in a deadly voice that had Joan stopping in her tracks a few feet away form Kim. That voice - it resonated with dark power.
Gilebert turned to face his uninvited guests. He’d recognized Joan’s voice but was thoroughly surprised to see her looking like Jeanne d’Arc! “Jeanne?” Gilebert said with obvious surprise, awe, and happiness even in his voice. His golden eyes lit up. He stood up and began to approach her but Dante quickly stood in his path.
Gilebert ignored Dante and continued to speak to Joan as if the bartender weren’t there. “Jeanne, is it really you? It’s me Gilles de Rais! Your loyal commander!”
Joan blinked, “Gilles?” Gilles de Rais had been in her army. From 1427 to 1435 Gilles had served as a commander in the Royal Army and fought alongside Jeanne d’Arc against the English. Gilles had been her trusted commander, but at the time she’d been grossly unaware of what kind of monster he really was. Present day, Joan Simone, knew all about Gilles de Rais and his sordid past from her high school history class, however.
The things Joan had learned about Gilles in high school flashed through her mind. After he’d retired from military life, he depleted his wealth by staging an extravagant theatrical spectacle of his own composition, and was accused of dabbling in the occult. After 1432 Gilles was accused of engaging in a series of murders with victims possibly numbering in the hundreds. It was no surprise to Joan that this man’s soul had been cursed to Hell and that he’d become a demon of the worst kind. Gilles was not the man she’d thought he was when she’d fought side by side with him against the English - he was a monster.
“Gilles de Rais.” Joan repeated in a dark tone. “I see. It makes sense that you would go to Hell and become a demon.” She sneered.
Gilles’ eyebrows rose to his hairline. “Ah, I suppose you know of my past since you’re looking at me with so much hate, Joan. But…I would never harm you.”
“How did you escape Hell?” Joan snapped.
“A foolish human summoned me here. They tend to do that. The demon circle he drew was incomplete and so I was able to kill him as soon as I entered the Material Plane. You were my leader once, over five hundred years ago, and…I loved you, Joan. And now…you’ve been reincarnated, I suppose. How much do you remember of the past? If I had known you’d been reincarnated I would have sought you out immediately. I would have protected you.” Gilles took another step forward while giving Joan an urgent look, and willing her to understand how much he truly cared for her.
Joan looked at Gilles in disgust, her eyes lingering on his horns and the long red tail that was swishing behind him, “Protected me? Don’t make me laugh, Gilles. You’re nothing but a monster. I want nothing to do with you. I’ll never forgive you for what you did to Kim!”
Gilles’ gaze flickered over to Kim. “Ah, you mean my latest decoration? She’s pretty for a human, isn’t she?”
“Decoration?” Gilles’ callous words made Joan’s blood freeze in her veins.
“She’s just an inferior human, Joan. Of course…you’re special.” He was quick to amend. He didn’t want to insult Joan after all. “You’re not just an ordinary human but something more. Join me…we can take over this city together! How about it?” Gilles spread his hands wide. “And then we can take over any city you wish after that! Such a thing would be easy if we were to combine our powers.”
Joan shook her head. “No. I have no interest in joining you. I’m taking Kim with me and then-” I’m going to kill you.
“Kim is my new favorite decoration. I will not let you take her.” Gilles interjected. “She provides me with all the energy I need.”
“You’re an Incubus.” Dante stated dryly.
“Bing bing bing. Someone give the bartender a prize.” Gilles agreed with a twisted smile.
“So you feed off of her sexual energy during intercourse, but there’s no reason for you to harm her.” Dante frowned at the realization.
“Ah, guilty. It’s not like beating her gives me more power…or does it? I wonder. But…I consider myself to be an artist, you see. I create a work of art by using my fists against the canvas that is that girl’s body. And I’ve never had such
a spectacular canvas to work with before. Kim’s skin is…shall we say, flawless. Perfect. I’ve never seen the like.” Gilles’ gushed as his gaze flickered over to Kim.
“Artist? You think you’re an artist?” Joan sneered, “You’re sick.”
Gilles’ eyes narrowed at Joan. “Your cruel words are like daggers to my heart, Joan. You were my everything once. I used to dream about you…fantasize.” He ran his tongue over his teeth. “I used to lay awake at night and daydream about going into your tent and kissing you, taking you. Unfortunately, Jean d’Aulon kept an annoyingly close watch over you. He used to sit outside of your tent at night, and stay awake the entire night protecting your virtue.”
Joan shuddered and she wrapped her arms around herself. “Pervert.” She moved towards Kim, risking putting her back to the demon, and reached out to take her friend down from the wall. “I’m getting her out of here.”
“I think not.” Gilles drawled.
The blink of an eye.
Joan turned her head and gasped. Dante was standing behind her and had caught Gilles’ wrist. Gilles had a double-edged, medieval sword in his hand and had been prepared to stab Joan in the back with it. That jerk! That had been close. Too close. If it hadn’t been for Dante…Joan would have been badly injured. Or worse.
I don’t owe the demon one. I don’t. Joan told herself.
Gilles was in his full demon form now - horns had sprouted out of his head, his incisors had lengthened, his ears had become slightly pointed, two red, leathery wings had sprouted from his back, and a long tail had emerged behind him that ended in a sharp barb.
Joan hadn’t seen him transform. Hadn’t seen him summon his sword. Crap! There was no mistaking it - Gilles was powerful.
But Dante was pissed. Gilles had just threatened Joan’s life. Horns had sprouted out of Dante’s head, his incisors lengthened, his nails turned into claws, and his eyes glowed red. “How dare you try to harm her, Gilles! Joan is mine!” Dante growled.
Joan shot Dante an astonished look. “I’m not yours!” She huffed.
A muscle ticked beneath Dante’s eye. “Just shut up and let me protect you, Joan!” The demon shot back.
Gilles’ expression turned murderous at Dante’s possessive words. “Yours? I think not, Dantalion! You already failed Joan once. I won’t permit you to get close to her again. Joan should have fallen in love with me five hundred and eighty-four years ago. Not you! I will kill you!” Gilles yanked his hand out of Dante’s grip and attacked the bartender instead of Joan.
Dante dodged out of the way. Bloody hell! If only he had enough power to summon his sword…but he didn’t. Unlike Gilles he hadn’t been busy harvesting fear and therefore demonic energy from the humans. The only weapons Dante had at his disposal at the moment were his claws.
Gilles let out a cry and attacked Dante viciously with his sword. Dante lithely dodged the attacks and blocked blows with his claws. Steel clashed against claws. “Die! Die! Die! Dantalion!” Gilles roared with a psychotic glint in his golden eyes.
“Gilles!” Dante shouted back as the two demons dueled.
However, as Dante fought against Gilles he could feel his demonic energy draining. He only had the ‘fear energy’, which he’d collected from Joan earlier…and it was already draining. His claws were becoming weaker. Soon they would be unable to block the sword blows. Soon he wouldn’t be fast enough to dodge those attacks. Soon he wouldn’t be able to protect Joan.
Blazes! “Joan! Take Kim and get out of here!” Dante roared as he swiped his claws, aiming at Gilles’ throat.
“But…what about you?” Joan was surprised that she was hesitating.
“Forget about me! Go! Gilles is too powerful!” Dante warned.
Gilles’ smile widened at Dante’s words and he swung his sword at the bartender’s head. Dante raised his claws to block the blow but this time Gilles’ sword cut through Dante’s claws. Dante was forced to leap backwards lest he lose his head.
“Dante!” Joan cried out in worry. This surprised Dante. Her tone of voice had almost been…worried.
“What’s the matter, Dante?” Gilles taunted. “Running low on demonic power? That’s what you get for playing nice with the humans, when you should have been torturing them and gaining power! What were you doing at Dullahan’s anyways? Were you actually working there as a bartender? How ridiculous!”
Joan couldn’t help but wonder the same thing.
However, at that moment, Dante’s horns and claws abruptly disappeared. He was fully human once more.
Gilles increased the speed of his attacks and Dante tried to dodge them, but he couldn’t see the next attack before it was too late. Stab. Gilles ran his sword right through Dante’s stomach.
“Dante! No!” Joan shouted as she watched the bartender get impaled.
Gilles cackled merrily, as he slid his sword out of Dante’s body. Blood gushed out of the sword wound and blood trickled down from the corner of Dante’s mouth. Dante looked at the wound in his stomach in disbelief. He couldn’t believe a mere sex demon had bested him! Blazes! He sunk to his knees as dark spots danced in front of his eyes.
Gilles approached menacingly, and raised his sword. “Good riddance, Dantalion.” He swung his sword, aiming for Dante’s neck.
“No!” Joan cried. In an instant, she was in front of Dante and blocking the sword blow with her holy sword. Her body had moved on its own and she’d saved Dante - her enemy. I’ll think about that later. Joan told herself. At that moment Gilles was her greater enemy.
Michael had been watching the fight and wondering what his next move should be when suddenly Joan stepped in and saved Dante. For Heaven’s sake! The Archangel swore in his mind and hoped God would forgive his swearing.
Gilles was looking at Joan in bewilderment. “You saved him. A demon.”
“Dante is my prey, Gilles. I’m the only one who can kill him!” Joan announced, raising her chin.
Gilles’ lip curled into an amused smile. “Is that so, Jeanne? Do you really intend to fight me? You won’t win, you know. I’m more powerful than you can imagine. I’ve been feasting upon women’s sexual energy for hundreds of years.”
“We’ll see about that.” Joan shot back as she pulled back her sword and swung it at Gilles.
Gilles raised his sword and blocked the blow easily. “Jeanne d’Arc. Do you realize how famous you’ve become after you died? In 1909 you were beatified and in 1920 you were canonized. There have been poems, plays, songs and now even movies made about you. You’re famous. A celebrity. Important. Special. These lowly humans should be bowing before you. Worshipping you. You could become a goddess among these primitive humans.”
“A goddess?” Joan scoffed.
“Why not rule by my side, Jeanne? The Apocalypse draws near anyways. And I plan to be on the winning side. I won’t fight to stop Lucifer from conquering the Earth with his legions of demons this time…but once the war is over I will swoop in and perhaps claim New York City as my own. Maybe Washington DC after that and Miami too. All of my favorite cities. I will rule, Jeanne. That’s why I’ve been gathering as much power as I can. When I hurt women during sex the energy I harvest…it becomes darker, Jeanne. I can feel it. And evil is more powerful than good!”
“How many women have you tortured and killed Gilles?” Joan demanded as she attacked Gilles again and again.
“Over the last hundred years? Oh, I’d say hundreds, probably more. But they enjoyed it, Jeanne. Well, except for when I grew bored of them and killed them of course.” He shrugged.
“You’re a monster, Gilles! And God will judge you for you sins. But for the moment, I will judge you myself. And I find you guilty. You will pay for your crimes. I will punish you for your sins, Gilles. With death.” Joan’s expression was hard and uncompromising.
“You would kill me, Jeanne? Send me back to Hell? After everything I did for you five hundred and eighty-four years ago? You would kill your beloved Gill
es?” Gilles gawked back at Joan for a moment before his expression darkened. “Ungrateful wench. If you won’t stand with me Jeanne, then you stand against me. I won’t kill you. You’re much too precious, but…I will have a new decoration for my wall!”
Gilles and Joan fought against each other, and their swords clashed, sending sparks into the air. They swung their massive double-edged swords at each other, the sound ringing through the apartment. Clang. Clang. Clang.
“So beautiful. So powerful.” Gilles complimented Joan. “You haven’t changed a bit. I couldn’t beat you in a one-on-one fight back then but…now things are different. I’m a demon. And I need not out-fight you. I just need to out-smart you. Everyone has a weakness, Joan.”
“Shut up! I have no weaknesses!” She snapped. “You will die, Gilles! I’m sending you back to Hell!” Joan attacked Gilles even more ferociously than before.
Gilles merely smiled, “Poor Joan…did Michael never mention to you what your greatest weakness is? You’re wide open.”
“Wh-what?” Joan asked as she raised her sword to block the oncoming sword blow-
The sword slipped past Joan’s defenses but went right over her shoulder close to her neck.
“Oh no…Joan! Look out!” Michael called out a warning.
Slice.
Too late.
Gilles’ sword cut through the chain that was around Joan’s neck - the enchanted cross fell from Joan and hit the floor. As soon as Joan lost the cross she transformed back into the mortal human, Joan Simone. She was no longer Saint Jeanne d’Arc. Her sword had vanished into thin air.
“My sword!” Joan gripped the thin air in disbelief. “No!” She lunged for the cross but Gilles kicked it across the room and put his sword to Joan’s throat. Joan glared up at Gilles heatedly, defiantly. “Curse you, Gilles.”
“Joan, Joan, Joan.” Gilles tsked. “You should be begging me for mercy and forgiveness. Not cursing me. Foolish girl.”
“I would never beg you for anything, you monster!” Joan spat at Gilles’ face.
A glob of spit hit Gilles’ cheek causing his nostrils to flare, and he tossed his sword to his other hand so he could use his right hand to backhand Joan hard across the face.
Joan cried out as she was sent flying sideways. As soon as she landed on the floor she crawled across the floor and hid behind the couch. That’s when she whipped out her cell phone and quickly dialed Alan’s cell phone number. Since she was behind the couch Gilles couldn’t see what she was doing. After three rings he picked up.
“Joan? Do you have an idea what time it is?” Alan said over the phone and yawned.
Joan rattled off her current address quickly and then said: “Did you get that, Alan? Please come. Kim is here…she’s hurt and she’s in danger.” If Alan comes…he’ll be afraid. That fear will empower Dante and then maybe together we can defeat this jerk. “Dante and I…we tried to rescue her but Gilebert, he-”
Gilles grabbed the phone out of Joan’s hand and wagged his finger at her. “Bad girl.” He put the phone up to his ear. “Is this Alan?”
“Gilebert?” Alan asked.
“That’s right. I can’t believe Joan called you of all people for help. She really must be desperate. But there’s nothing a coward like you could do against someone like me, Alan. There’s no way you’ll be able to save the woman you love. And you do love Kim, don’t you, Alan? But you won’t come and save her. And do you want to know why? Because…I’m something you can’t even begin to comprehend, Alan. I’m a demon. And if you come here you will die a slow, painful death because I will kill you and enjoy it.” Gilles ended the call before Alan could respond, threw the cell phone down on the floor, and crushed it under his boot. “Your fearlessness will be your undoing, Joan. Your friend Alan will not come. He’s probably pissing in his pants right about now.” Gilles laughed cruelly.
Joan bit her lower lip because Gilles was right. She should be terrified right then but she wasn’t. She was a battle-hardened warrior and since Kim was still alive and well, there was hope. Alan would come. He’d be scared out of his mind but he would come. That’s when Dante would regain his strength and save them all. I’m not relying on him. Joan tried to convince herself. “Fxxx you!” She actually swore, surprising Gilles immensely. “And you’re wrong. Alan will come.”
Gilles just smiled at Joan and looked her over, his eyes roving over her body slowly, lingering on her chest and hips. “You will make a lovely new decoration.” Gilles reached his hand towards Joan, however-
Michael leapt through the air with a growl and bit down on Gilles’ wrist. Gilles roared out in pain as Michael sunk his teeth deeply into Gilles’ flesh. “Effing dog!” He twisted his sword in his grasp and stabbed the dog with it. Michael yelped in pain.
“No! Michael!” Joan cried out, tears filling her green eyes. Joan became filled with fear for her friend and guardian angel in that instant.
Dante’s unconscious body twitched.
Gilles pulled his sword out of the dog’s body and kicked it aside. “Stupid dog…got in my way.” The demon gave the fallen creature a pensive look. “He’ll make a nice decoration too. Now, where was I…?” Gilles approached Joan and reached his hand out towards her again. Joan bit his hand as soon as it got near her and she sunk her teeth in. “Effing witch!” Gilles roared.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Dante’s hand twitching. He realized that Joan’s fear was giving him power. “Oh no, you don’t.” Gilles said before he backhanded Joan with his other hand. She saw stars before darkness consumed her. Gilles couldn’t have Dante recovering his strength with Joan’s fear anytime soon and so he’d been forced to knock Joan unconscious. Gilles looked down at Joan’s unconscious form and ran his tongue over his teeth. Now to undress her.
To be continued…in Drink 12: Le Vin de Merde
Dantalion: “Good evening, lowly human, so you wish to know how to make all of the Christmas cocktails that were mentioned earlier? Well, let us begin with how to make the Peppermint Stick. Add 1 1/2 ounces of white crème de cacao, 1 ounce of cream, and 1 ounce peppermint schnapps to your shaker tin with ice. Shake and strain ingredients into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a small peppermint candy cane and serve.
“The Christmas Cookie - combine 1 ounce of peppermint schnapps, 1 ounce of Kahlua, 1 ounce of Bailey’s into a shaker tin with ice. Shake thoroughly, then strain the ingredients into a chilled martini glass.
“When you’ve had enough of the holidays have a Grinch. It will most certainly make you feel better. The Grinch - Combine 2 ounces of Midori, 1/2 an ounce of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of simple syrup into a shaker with ice. Shaker well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
“The Santa Shot - Pour grenadine to about 1/3 of your shot glass. Carefully layer the crème de menthe, then the peppermint schnapps in equal parts.
“The Chocolate Raspberry Martini - Chill your ingredients beforehand. Pour 1 1/2 ounces of raspberry vodka, and 1 ounce of white crème de cacao into a chilled martini glass.
“The Red Hot Santa Tini - Mix some cocoa powder together with a pinch of cayenne pepper and rim a chilled martini glass with it. Shake 2 ounces of chili-infused vodka with 2 ounces of Godiva chocolate liqueur and pour the mixture into the martini glass. Top it off with whip cream and garnish by floating a small Thai chili pepper on top of the cream.
“Snowball - Pour 3 ounces of 1921 Tequila Cream Liqueur, 3 drops of vanilla, 1 ounce of evaporated skim milk, and 1/2 an ounce of Kahlua into a blender with ice. Blend for about ten seconds. Pour into a wine glass or a brandy snifter. Sprinkle cinnamon powder on top and stick the cinnamon stick down the glass for garnish.
“The Red Rudolph - Heat 6 ounces of cranberry juice until it’s hot. Pour 1/2 an ounce of orange curacao, 3/4 of an ounce of cinnamon schnapps, and 1/2 an ounce of vodka into an Irish coffee mug and then slowly add the hot juice. The temperature of the drink will be
warm. Top it with whipped cream and garnish with sugar sprinkles on top.
“The Candy Cane - Mix 3/4 of an ounce of SKYY Berry vodka, 3/4 of an ounce of peppermint schnapps, 3/4 of an ounce of white crème de cacao, and 1/4 of an ounce of grenadine with ice into a cocktail shaker. Be sure to shake it up thoroughly. Rim a cocktail glass with crushed hard peppermint candy and pour the shaken mixture into the glass. Top it off with half ‘n’ half.
“This is how to make your own eggnog. Make sure to refrigerate all of the liquids and get them very cold before you make the drink. Beat 6 eggs at medium speed until they’re very frothy. Gradually add 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 of a teaspoon of ground nutmeg as you continue beating. Now turn the mixer off and stir in 2 cups of whipping cream, 2 cups milk, 3/4 of a cup of brandy and 1/3 of a cup of dark rum. Chill it until you’re ready to serve. Garnish each serving with nutmeg sprinkled on top and a cinnamon stick.
“Hot Buttered Rum - Put a cinnamon stick, lemon peel and 2 ounces of dark rum into a mug. Fill it with boiling water (leave a spoon in the mug so the glass won’t break from the heat). Float 1 pat of butter on top, then stir it in. Or serve it with the butter floating and let your guests stir it in with their cinnamon sticks.
“Mulled wine - combine one bottle of red wine, 1 cup of cognac, 3/4 of a cup of sugar, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3 whole cloves, 1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg, 1 vanilla bean, 1 star anise, 1 sliced orange, and 1 sliced lemon into a sauce pan and simmer for twenty-five minutes. Let it sit overnight if possible (in the refrigerator is fine). Strain out the fruits and other non-drinkable ingredients and serve it warm in glass mugs. Enjoy and happy holidays! Remember that the legal drinking age is 21 and to drink responsibly.”