Besides breaking cinder blocks into piles of rubble in his backyard and doing martial arts in general, cooking was often a great stress reliever in Marco's day-to-day life. Give the man some raw ingredients and a kitchen with all the tools he needs to make something mind-blowingly delicious and he'll be in heaven for an hour or two.

Marco was in his usual red apron, standing in front of his stove with two of its burners occupied with a big pot each. One pot had some beef short ribs braising with some chili peppers and the other one, being stirred with a wooden spoon, was full of beef stock, onions, and garlic. They brought a sweet and mildly spicy aroma throughout the entire kitchen.

With a small spoon, Marco scooped a bit of the mixture before bringing it to his lips. After a contemplative smacking of his lips, he added a couple shakes of salt to the pot. He scooped another small spoonful and brought it to his lips again. He cracked a small smile and moved onto the next step.

"Yo Marco, that smells awesome, what is it?"

And just like that, Marco's smile and optimism: gone. The Devil had arrived and brought Hell to his one hour or so of heaven. He sighed, continuing to cook his mildly spicy and savoury dish with a soured mood.

"Birria Quesa Tacos." He answered, never taking his eyes away from the pot.

Janna leaned her head against Marco's bicep, curiously watching the pots simmer. The man stiffened but didn't pull away.

"Lotta meat you're braisin' there." Janna nudged Marco's arm. "Not the kind I was hopin' to get from you, but oh well."

"Janna, is your purpose being here really just to make sexual innuendos at my expense?"

"Whoa, mind off the gutter dude, I was talking about Goat meat." Janna raised her hands defensively. "Birria Quesa's usually made with Goat instead of Beef, right? "

"Oh...uh, yeah. You're right." Marco awkwardly cleared his throat. "It's not easy to find around here, though."

"I can hook ya up if ya want." Janna casually offered. "I know a guy."

"Uh, ya got a guy who deals goat meat?"

Janna shook her head. "Nah man, entire goats."

Marco turned towards Janna with a confused, almost worried look. "What the Hell do you need whole goats for?"

"Well I gotta sacrifice something when I'm summoning demons right?"

"Geez. Really hope you don't put Mari up to that stuff."

"Nah, she's only there to keep an eye on me. Make sure no demons eat me or something."

"Uh huh."

Marco stopped stirring his broth and turned off the heat. He checked on his braised beef. With a fork smoothly going through the tender meat, Marco nodded with satisfaction and before removing the beef from the pot with some tongs and putting them in a large glass bowl.

"Guessin' you and Mari are done with homework."

Janna nodded. "Yup. We're just waitin' on dinner right now."

"Good. Here." Marco handed the bowl and a fork to Janna. "If you're gonna be here before it's ready, at least make yourself useful and shred these for me while I deal with the tortillas and cheese."

"Sure." Janna shrugged as she took the bowl and did as asked.

The girl marveled at how easily the beef fell apart with even the slightest touch of the fork. Marco noticed the hungry glimmer in her eyes. He rolled his eyes, yet he also related to the feeling. It reminded him of when he used to help his dad cook similar dishes and he asked to try a piece of the cooked meat.

"You can try a few pieces, but do NOT eat the whole bowl." Marco threateningly pointed a wooden spoon Janna's way.

"Pffft, relax. I wouldn't wanna ruin some perfectly good Birrias."

Janna took a forkful of beef and put some in her mouth. She chewed for a few seconds before her eyes seemed to almost pop out of their sockets. She looked to Marco, who became worried.

"What's wrong? Did the beef turn out bad?"

Janna remained silent. She swallowed the beef and looked at the bowl in her hands once more. That same hungry look in her eyes returned, stronger than before.

"Y'know what. Maybe I will eat the whole bowl."

"Oh no ya don't!" Before she could do anything, Marco snatched the bowl from Janna's hands.

"Aww c'mon, Marco. Just one more taste, pleeeaase!" Janna begged, clasping her hands together.

"No." Marco firmly refused. "I'm trying to make Birria Quesa Tacos, not Birria Quesadillas. You wait just like the rest of us."

"Ugghh, fine." Janna begrudgingly conceded with folded arms.

After Marco put aside the bowl then removed his apron, he noticed a piece of beef stuck on the corner of Janna's mouth.

"Uh, ya got a little…" Marco pointed out the spot on his own face so Janna would get it.

Instead she looked confused and touched the opposite side.

"No, I mean… here." Marco pointed again, tapping the same spot with his finger.

Janna placed a hand on her cheek, closer to the spot but not quite there.

Grunting in annoyance, Marco reached out to flick it off her face himself.

With speed that gave even Marco pause, Janna grabbed his hand right as it drew near her face.

It felt as if time came to a screeching halt. The entire world seemed to silence itself just so Marco could hear the increasingly loud thrumming of his own heart.

Janna slowly and deliberately clamped her mouth around Marco's thumb. Her eyes closed halfway but kept them on Marco the entire time.

Marco felt the warmth and wetness of a tongue toying with the tip of his thumb. As it licked and lashed, Janna completely shut her eyes, moaning softly throughout. For some reason, Marco stayed frozen, watching Janna orally take his thumb with fascination, curiosity, and, against his better judgement, arousal.

Janna released Marco's thumb with a wet pop before sticking three more of his fingers in her mouth, taking him all the way to his knuckles. He was surprised by how easily she took his fingers so deep without choking.

For some reason, the man found no need to stop watching or stop the whole thing outright. His entire body tingled with a forbidden need as sweat started to gather his shaky, fidgety free hand.

The whole time, Janna never stopped keeping her eyes locked on Marco. It was like she put him under a powerful spell that needed no incantation nor catalyst. Otherwise, how else could she paralyze him in such a way?

Marco's fingers slowly emerged from Janna's mouth, becoming colder in contrast to her fiery deepthroating.

Several strings of saliva stuck to Marco's fingers as they withdrew from Janna. Her mouth stayed open briefly, her tongue hanging out before she shot him a smug and seductive smile.

"No gag reflex." She bragged, her half lidded, smiling face remaining. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Uh. Uh..." Marco was at a loss for words. He was ashamed to admit how hot the whole thing was and how impressed he was by Janna's oral abilities. He really, really wished his pants weren't feeling so tight at that moment.

"Y'know, if ya still don't believe me..." Janna spoke softly, furtively. Like she was trying to make a deal out of public earshot. "...we can put it to the test right here and now."

He couldn't believe he was seriously considering taking Janna up on her offer. He generally found her constant flirting annoying yet flattering and even cute at times. And he, as much as he loathed to admit it, did find her somewhat attractive. And even though she could be rather obnoxious, he admitted it added a spice to his life few people could offer.

But still, these were dangerous feelings to have and Marco needed to stop this before it got out of hand. He refused her once and he could do it again.

But the forbidden itch in his pants was too great to ignore. The need to finish what was started too great to deny.

Okay, just this once, Marco thought. A quick one, like she said before. No more than that. They'll never talk about this again. They'll forget this even happened.

"Okay…" Marco nearly whispered.

Janna's eyes widened for a second, seeming surprised, before they closed halfway and her seductive smile returned.

"Now you're speakin' my language." She said as she reached for Marco's crotch.

She withdrew her hand almost immediately the moment she felt his raging hard on beneath his sweatpants. Again, there was that shocked look on her face, followed by her eyes darting between Marco's face and his crotch.

"Holy shit dude, I haven't even done anything yet. Ya got it that bad, huh?"

"Janna, just…" Marco said, urgency in his tone.

"Right. That bad." Janna got on her knees. She reached out to the tied strings that kept Marco's pants tightly in place.

"Don't worry, Marco." Janna gave the man another half-lidded stare. "I'll make sure not to waste. A single. Drop."

Marco's hands shook in anticipation. Sweat gathered on his forehead. He felt like he was burning up and it wasn't from the kitchen.

Janna gripped the end of one of the strings and started to pull. The tied knot unraveled in seconds. Meanwhile, Janna used her other hand to hook a finger onto the top of Marco's pants. The man gulped and closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

"Marco?" Mariposa called out from outside the kitchen. "Did Janna go home already?"

"Shit." Janna hissed under her breath as she jumped back to her feet. Marco frantically fumbled to tie up his slightly loose pants.

Before Mari walked into the kitchen, Marco and Janna managed to set an inconspicuous distance from each other, the former dealing with the tortillas and cheese as he planned on earlier while the latter casually leaned against the counter.

"Oh, there you are." Mariposa smiled as she put her hands on her hips. "Couldn't resist Marco's cooking huh?"

"Yup. Among other things." Janna turned to Marco with a sly, knowing smile. Marco responded with a sour face.

"Almost done, Marco?"

"Gettin' there." He continued preparing the rest of the dish, trying to keep his mind away from what just happened minutes earlier. "Seven. Ten minutes tops."

"Awesome." Mari raised her fists in joy. "Dibs on setting the table!"

After the dish was finished and plated, all three sat at the table, enjoying their tacos and conversing. All except Marco. He didn't so much enjoying it as he was trying to swallow down the guilt. And he wasn't so much conversing as he was keeping quiet and barely listening to what the girls were talking about. He heard something about a new foreign exchange student at school.

Every now and then, Marco would catch Janna's eyes looking his way, a certain glint in them that tore his gaze away and pretend he was too occupied with his food. Instead, he was too occupied with what would have happened had Mari not walked in when she did. Or if she walked in just several minutes too late. The thought made him shudder.

"Marco." Mari called out. "You okay there? Haven't said a word since we all sat down."

"I'm good." He lied. He took another bite of his Birria Quesa, a string of cheese stretching as he ate his piece.

"Big guy's just bummed 'cause a lady left him high and dry last week." Janna said, resting her chin on her palm.

"Janna, seriously. Stop." Marco glared daggers at the instigator.

"Wait what?" Mari tilted her head in confusion. "I thought you gave up dating after-"

"Mariposa Luna Diaz." Marco cut her off curtly. He made a fist, close to banging it on the table like a judge in an unruly courtroom. "We talked about this. We don't bring that up ever again."

Mari left her mouth agape, as if she tried choosing her next words carefully.

"I'm sorry, Marco. It's just. I just thought you completely swore off women after… y'know."

"Please, the dude's at the prime of his life." Janna chimed in. "He can't afford not to be swiggity swooty, goin' after the booty at his age."

"First of all, Janna shut up." Marco pointed at the girl before turning to Mari. "Second, there's no woman, okay? And third, can we just get through dinner without bringing up my failed love life, please?"

"Bullshit, then why'd you say you had to deep clean your couch earlier, huh?" It was Janna's turn to point.

"I spilled some coffee on it, okay?" Marco through his palms down.

"Geez, why didn't ya say so earlier?"

"Because you-"

Marco stopped himself before he said something he'd regret Mari would discover. He slumped into his chair, hands back at his sides. Janna leaned back in her chair, seeming amused.

"Okay so." Mari put her taco on her plate before she continued. "What's been goin' on with you this past week then?"

All eyes were on Marco. Anxiety crept up his spine as Janna looked at him knowingly and expectantly while Mari looked so innocent and worried that Marco was almost compelled to spill his guts right then and there. But he couldn't. Not to anyone. Not even his best friend or even his own sister.

Marco sighed deeply. "I don't wanna talk about it. It's adult stuff. You wouldn't get it."

"Ugh. Of course." Mari leaned back in her chair, arms folded in disappointment. "You always say that."

Dinner continued on in tense silence. The girls didn't even say a word to each other after that. Mari and Marco focused on finishing their food. Janna's eyes darted between them, looking as if trying to stifle a laugh.

Once dinner was over, Marco and Mari cleaned up the table as well as the rest of the kitchen before the girls prepared to leave Marco's house to go back to their own.

Right as Mari walked past Marco and out the door, she turned around and faced him with a gravely serious face.

"I'm more adult than you'll ever know, Marco Ubaldo Diaz."

And she stomped off. Not the worst goodbye he's ever gotten, but he still felt shoved by her words. With a shrug, he dismissed it as teenage hormones before shutting his door.

Marco fell into his couch, his phone in his hands. A few menus later and his finger hovered above the contact he made after Brantley gave him the name and number.

Night Raven.

Marco hesitantly pressed the Messaging button bringing up the usual chat window.

He took a deep breath, before typing out the code word.

Nevermore.

Seconds passed. Then minutes. Even though it hasn't even been half an hour, it still felt like ages already passed since Marco sent the text.

Marco needed the touch of a woman badly. He starved himself of it for so long, it ate away at his resolve and his morality, leaving in its wake a lusty beast who felt like pouncing on any attractive girl who got too close and too intimate. Like Jackie or Janna. He felt like such a freak for sleeping with the former and nearly having sordid exchanges with the latter. He needed to wash his hands of it, so to speak. Remind himself he's not that kind of guy.

The buzzing of his phone nearly made Marco jump. When he saw the recipient's chat bubble pop up, his heart went several miles per second. There was no greeting, no formal introductions questions. Just straight to the point.

"Midnight sharp. 38th House Street. Lucky Wing Apartments. 3rd Floor, Room 8. $66.70 per hour. Cash. No refunds. Do you accept?"

Marco hesitated before he gave his answer. Though, even if he did he could still back out and not have to go.

But the itch in the corner of his mind and his pants ached for him to confirm. To get the relief he needed, however temporary it was. Maybe Brantley was right and she actually could magically make his problems go away.

Marco texted, "Yes."

There was a brief delay before the other response came.

"Excellent. The Night Raven awaits your arrival. Here is the secret knock: Darkness, imprisoning me. All that I see. Absolute horror. I cannot live, I cannot die. Trapped in myself. Body my holding cell.

Well, she has decent taste in music, that's for sure, Marco thought. He wasn't sure how he'd feel about heavy metal being blasted while he was getting a possibly erotic massage, but he supposed he could fuck to worse.

There were a few hours left before midnight. Marco had ample time to decide whether or not he'd go through with it despite already making the appointment.

Thoughts of what happened with Jackie, then Janna came flooding back. There was a loud throbbing in his chest and beneath his pants. The answer became clear.