Every girl cant wait to go to a romantic place with her boyfriend! His supposed to pick her up dressed up, take her to the restaurant in a nice vehicle, open the door, walk in with her holding his arm, and him pull the chair out for her, right? That's how it used to be, or how my mother would tell me it was supposed to be.

I think that's what I miss most about her. Her telling me how it used to be in her days. I sometimes wished for that kind of of thing.

So here I am, Maria Windler, walking down Zulan Street to the restaurant my date, Samuel was supposed to pick me up for. It started out fine, til he called claiming he couldn't get his brother to let him take the SUV. He told me what restaurant to be at around 8:30.

So again, here I am, walking down the streets of New Orleans, to a restaurant I don't know, praying my date will be there. Yea for 26, I was supposed to be a mature adult with my career to look forward to. Now if only I hadn't meet Samuel.

I meet Samuel at my office. He was a delivery boy from the main fabric store. (Why we got together, not even I know. Probably my loneliness).

I'm a fashion designer. I've worked hard to La Nichols for a year and worked my way to my own office. Pretty sweet huh? I think so. It was fun to make the clothes I saw people wearing. Made me feel good to give them something nice to wear.

I see the sign of the restaurant I was supposed to meet Samuel. Walking in, I froze when I saw it was a bar. There were more creepy bikers there than anything.

Walking through the bar and taking a seat in the back, closest to the bar, I checked my phone.

No calls or texts.

Damn it. Was I at the wrong store.

"Miss?" a low voice asked from beside me. Glancing up, I saw the most gorgeous man leaning down with a worried expression on his face.

He looked to be 6'8", long brunette hair flowed down his shoulders to his waist, pale skin, and striking light blue eyes stared down at me through black wire glasses.

He wore a plain white t-shirt with black leather pants. Most definitely a gorgeous man.

"Would you like a cup of cocoa or something to warm you?" he asked softly. How unlike the atmosphere of the bar.

I gave him a warm smile.

"That would be nice, thank you" I said watching him. He smiled.

"Alright, one cocoa coming up" he said and headed back to the bar.

Nervously glancing around, I saw the group of bikers eyeing me. Uh oh, this could be trouble.

Trying to keep my attention off of them, I looked through my phone and found my friend, Tosha's number and texted her. Telling her of Samuels date tonight, how terrible it was.

*Text Messages on Maria's phone to Tosha*

(will use ~ for Tosha, and * for Maria)

~Hey, hows the date sweetie?~

*Terrible, he made me walk and now, the romantic restaurant is a bar!*

~Your kidding me?~

*No, there's no sign of him and no calls*

~That lil asshole! Don't you worry, I'll make him pay for this, I swear, no one messes with my girl~

*Thanks, bartender is kind of cute -^-^-*

~Really? Send me a pic plz?~

*Sends a pic she snuck*

~Dear god his hott! Talk to him or ask him out hon!~

*Think he'll like me?*

~Of course he will, if the asshole shows up, he can take care of him for you~

*Well, would like Samuel humiliated*

~Then do it, let me now how it goes, hugs hon~

*Hugs*

*Fury's POV*

I saw the woman walk into the bar. A lovely woman. Her brunette hair flowed in curls around her shoulders and back. She wore a tight slim brown dress that emphasized her emerald eyes. Such a beautiful woman, but what was she doing here?

She looked almost ready to cry. Instinct, I walked over to her. First thing I thought was giving her something warm to drink. It looked like she had been walking for a while in the cold. She smiled and I watched her emerald eyes light up.

Making her a cup of cocoa, I walked over to her table and she looked up, smiling once again.

"Here you are, hope it helps warm you up" I say with a smile of my own.

"Thank you very much. How much do I owe?" she asked, glancing at me nervously.

"Its on the house, since its cold out tonight" I say, looking down at her.

She looked surprised but smiled and whispered a thank you.

I caught the blush that crossed her face, and again, her eyes looked as though she might cry.

Even though it was my nature to comfort a female when in distress, humans were different. You had to talk and get them used to you before doing anything. Sometimes even just be near them for days, weeks, even months before they were comfortable around you.

Straightening up to walk back to the bar, I felt her grab my apron. (Yes I wore a small black apron around my waist to write down orders and carry straws.)

Turning back to her, I saw her slight confused look.

"I'm sorry, I just, really feel bad now, I was supposed to be on a date and apparently I was told wrong" she said, staring down at her cup.

Not really sure of what to do, I slowly sat at the small table with her.

"What restaurant were you told of?" I asked, wondering what one she was looking for.

"I was told to look for Seer Mo Dalis" she chided, still staring down at her cup.

How sad. A human male told her of a restaurant that burned down almost a century ago.

"Well, your date im afraid, told you of a building that was here almost a century ago" I say in a low voice.

I saw the look of hurt run across her face. Again tears threaten to fall.

"How about, when I get off, I take you somewhere to eat since I haven't eaten?" I ask, watching her face.

It was full of suspicion.

"Why would you do that?" she asked after a minute of silence.

"Well, it looks like you need a good meal. I can drive us to wherever you would like and take you home" I offered, wondering if she would accept the offer.

Finally she smiled.

"For a bartender at a place like this, your very nice" she commented taking a sip of her cocoa.

"When do you get off?" she asked after taking a sip. I glanced at the clock.

"In 23 minutes" I chided, smiling at her. She grinned.

"Okay" she uttered in a low voice.

Grinning I got up and walked back behind the bar. Finishing up the dishes, restocking glasses, and bringing in more bottles of beer and wine, I saw Michael (the bartender that took my place after my shift, from 9-5) standing there grinning.

"Fury, you don't have to set everything up for me, I can get you now" she commented.

"I know, but I like to help you" I chided setting the case down.

(I now nothing about being a bartender so please work with me, thank yous ^_^)

"Well have a good night" she chided, clocking me out. I handed her my apron and walked into the employee area to grab my coat.

Walking out from the back, I saw Maria sitting there waiting. She looked up and smiled, standing, glancing around nervously.

Taking her arm, I lead her out of the bar and around to the side to a my black sedan.

She gaped. "How does a bartender have such a new vehicle?" she asked, as I open the door for her. I smiled.

"I had money stashed away, when my motorcycle broke down, this is was what I bought" I said and closed the door, walking around to the drivers side and started the car, heading to the restaurant she pointed out. A Italian restaurant. One of my favorites.

Pulling around to the side, I open the door and walk her in.

A young female hostess looked up with a smile. Her eyes full of lust. A look I hated.

"A table for two?" she asked, smiling at me.

"Yes, the mid section in the back" I say to her, she nodded and showed us to our seats, I paused and pulled out the chair for Maria. The expression on her face was both confusion and adoration.

"Do you come here often?" she asked after a minute. I nodded.

"I like Italian food, I grew up on it" I comment, watching her.

"Well, I'm sorry but I didn't properly introduce myself, I'm Maria Windler, I'm a fashion designer." she said smiling.

Even though I already new her name just by seeing her, I faked innocence of knowing her.

"Well it's a pleasure to now you Miss Maria, I am Fury Nightro, I'm a bartender and artist" I say, smiling when her eyes light up.

Maria's POV

This had to be the nicest man I've meet since high school prom! So far he had been just like my mother had talked about in the old days. He opened the doors and helped me be seated. And so far, he was being so nice.

I had found he was both a bartender and artist!

Maybe his paintings could give me new ideas for a pattern for my dresses?

I listened as he commented on some things I asked him.

"You had said you were supposed to be on a date, and your date made you walk in the cold and go to a restaurant that didn't exist. How could you not see such a thing coming, miss Maria?" he asked suddenly.

I paused after taking a drink of my water.

"I never thought he would do something like this to me. He always really nice and would bring me flowers. He would apologize for any dates he broke." I explained hoping my argument would be good enough. Judging by the look on Fury's face. I doubted it.

"He was always late on your dates or he broke them, with what the excuse his mother or father was sick? His dog got hurt? His sick himself?" Fury asked, as he spoke I realized how stupid I was. Samuel had used those old excuses on me. And I stupidly never questioned them.

"How long have you two been dating?" Fury asked watching me. "Three months" I uttered, unable to find my voice.

"I see. It sounds more like a flirt but not really want to date thing" he said after a minute. A waiter came up and handed us menu's. Fury ordered and waited for me. After writing my order down the waiter left and a female waitress came up, eyeing Fury like he was covered in chocolate sauce. She smiled and asked if we wanted any wine. I was surprised to find he ordered, Whitezing. (Made up ^^"). A rare but very thick red wine. Most people were afraid to drink it, for it resembled blood all too well.

The rest of the evening was pleasant. He only spoke when I spoke to him. He commented and gave his opinion on what we spoke of.

I felt glad for the evening he was showing me.

After the meal, he walked me to the vehicle and asked where I lived. Pointing it out to him, he slowed and shut off the vehicle, getting out, he came around and again, helped me to my door.

Turning, I smiled at him. "Thank you for this night Fury, I shall say, it was very nice. And I hope we can meet again, for I surely wont be seeing Samuel again" I say. I saw his eyes flash of a surprised look.

"Well, glad you enjoyed it Maria, had a good night" he chided and walked off.

Smiling I went to my apartment.

Yes I had a great evening with Fury.

Fury's POV

I had a great night with Maria. Watching her go into her apartment, I waited til I was sure she couldn't see me. Quickly flashing to a alley, I phased to my true form.

Large jagged bat like wings projected from my back. My nails grew long and black. My canines grew larger. Horns and a satyr like legs formed.

With a sigh, I knew I could never show Maria what I was.

A demon from the Old World. Hiding within this new world.

How could a killing machine get a human who was frightened of things like him, love him?

With sadden thought, I flashed to my own room of darkness and let sleep over take me.