It had been five days since Marissa had her run in with Ambrose. The weekend came, the weekend went and all she concluded with was, he wasn't a Dark-Hunter. She'd met plenty before, and could sense their psychic abilities they possessed. She didn't get shit from Ambrose. Which meant he could be like her and be able to shield his powers from people, but that was saying something, because she could do some kick-ass things.

Right now, she was doing her first shift as a waitress at Sanctuary. Her father and Ash took her in and introduced her to Aimee and Dev Peltier-the Were-Hunters who owned the bar. The bar looked like it was run by a bunch of regular human beings, but really… They were just a bunch of shape shifters, and the Peltiers in particular were bears.

Dev made a promise to both Ash and Kyrian that no one would touch her. She was treated as they treated Aimee. No one touched, or looked at her. Except for Aimee's mate, Fang. Aimee took Marissa aside though, and promised that she'd have the time of her life working here, spite how high maintenance Ash and her father were making it out to be.

Three hours into her shift, Marissa was having a good time. She was slowly but surely getting the hang of it, and between taking orders and going back into the kitchen, the bears were highly entertaining. Around ten 'o clock however, she got a visit from her younger brother.

She was walking up to get the empty plates from a table that had just emptied when her phone went off. A text message from NJ.

Look up.

She did and saw NJ standing in the shadows, not looking pleased. He crossed the room toward her, and Marissa held her breath knowing this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. Standing at about, six foot, NJ moved through the crowd towering over half the crowd. His blond hair was short, but bangs hid his eyes, that she knew were angry.

"We need to talk."

She looked bored. "Nice to see you too, bro. What's it been? Since Christmas?"

"Cut the bullshit, Marissa. Who's this guy that came onto you?" NJ spit out, not bothering to hide his anger.

Marissa put her hands on her hips. "Are you kidding me? Seriously? No. I'm not doing this."

She turned to leave, but her brother grabbed her by the arm and forced her to stay. "You know better. Dark-Hunters-"

But he was frozen in place. "Let. Go. Now." He glared to her, and she glared back, knowing she had made him go from pissed off, to furious for paralyzing him.

Dev Peltier stood guard ominously in front of the door to Sanctuary, his wife Samia, next to him whispering stuff in his ear. Occasionally he would smirk, but kept his threatening pose nonetheless.

As if he could sniff out the trouble coming, Dev turned in the direction of Nick rounding the corner. A smirk covered his face.

"Bear." Nick grumbled as he walked past the two. He looked to Sammie. "Still keeping his ass in check, I hope?"

A large grin covered crossed her features. "You know it. Where've you been Malachai?"

"Around. A lot of time to kill when you're never gonna die, ya know?"

"Don't rub it in," Dev said, "You're making me jealous. Ya know I'm not immortal over here."

Nick nodded Sammie's way. "And you gave up all those years for this guy. Bet he hogs the bed and snores like a mother."

"Check that tone, Gautier, I don't have to let you in." Dev threatened.

"Yeah, ooo, big scary bear, almost as scary as the big bad wolf." He smirked, "Almost."

Before anymore insults could be thrown back and forth Nick nodded a good-bye and headed inside. As usual the bar was full of people, locals and tourists. Aimee was going about taking orders, and Fang was busy keeping his eye on the guys in the bar, making sure no one played any grab ass with his girl.

"Gautier!" It was Remi, one of Dev's identical quads. "How's it going man? Long time no see."

Nick was ready to reply when someone caught his eye. The girl from the café. Marissa. "Hol… Hold that thought." Nick said as he pushed his way past the bear and toward the girl. She worked here? Did that mean she was in on his world? Now even more curious about her, he worked his way through the crowded club and almost reached her until…

Another guy came up to her. Nick stopped dead in his tracks. Maybe it was better this way. The guy looked like he had something going for him. Tall, blond, handsome… And now rough handling her. "Shit."

Nick didn't hesitate to cross the bar as quickly as possible, reaching Marissa, he gently moved her out of the way of the Daimon and didn't hesitate to knock the guy senseless.

Marissa was in shock. Where the hell had Ambrose come from? And why was he beating up her brother? Who was paralyzed… "Shit," She mumbled before releasing him.

"Max!" Fang shouted, as all the members of Sanctuary took position, used to fights breaking out. The only concern was making sure the humans didn't remember. That was why the dragon who slept in the attic resided in Sanctuary. He could fog the memories of the humans in the bar so they could never recall all the weird shit that happens.

"Nick, no!" Aimee yelled, hurrying to the scene of the fight.

Nick didn't listen as he grabbed a blade he had hidden in his belt, ready to stab the Daimon dead in the chest.

Taking another punch in the jaw off balanced his footing, just pissed NJ off even more, and when Nick took the time to grab the blade, gave him just enough time to ready himself for the battle to be.

"Bring it on, you son of a bitch!" the guy snarled catching Nick by the wrist before the blade could stab into his chest.

"Nick, stop!" Fang yelled, closing in on the fight, and grabbing Nick around the waist and pulling him away.

"What the hell is going on?" Dev roared, hurrying inside with Sammie right beside him.

"This fuck head attacked me out of nowhere!"

Nick was ready to lose his temper. Had that much changed in the few years he'd been gone that they let Daimon scum into Sanctuary? "I have an oath to uphold to terminate Daimon vermin like you!"

The guy looked around at the fellow workers who had broken up the fight. "Is this guy for real? Man, Artemis is picking out the dumbest of the dumb, I tell ya. I'm not a Daimon, dumbass."

Nick looked around to see the truth. He shrugged his hold out of Fangs arms and looked at Marissa who stared at Nick like he'd lost his mind. "Well, then you should learn to treat the lady better, and I wouldn't look at you as a threat."

The guy looked over to Marissa and then back to Nick. "It's none of your business how I treat my sister, you piece of shit! So stay out of my business."

Nick looked to Marissa and saw the truth. It was just her brother… Fine. Whatever. If he thought the girl was off limits before, then she was definitely off limits now. Her brother wanted to gut him for sure. Without saying another word, Nick turned on his heel and hurried out the backdoor.

Marissa let out a deep breath as her eyes followed Ambrose disappearing through the crowd. Her brother bitching brought her back to reality, however.

"See what I was trying to tell you, Risi! Perfect example about how stupid they are!"

She turned on him so quick, he jumped as she got in his face. "Go home, Nick! This is my first day here, and you've probably just got me fired for being an asshole, so you better get the hell out of here before I send you somewhere you won't enjoy at all."

Pissed off, he obeyed her threat before throwing his hands up and turning on his heel to go through the crowd and leave her be.

Marissa let out a deep aggravated breath, before turning around and bumping right into Aimee. Shock covered her face, as she looked up at her unhappy boss. "Aimee, I'm…"

Aimee held up her hand. "I'm going to pretend, just this once, that none of that ever happened. I know it wasn't your fault, but I don't want that type of stuff going on all the time."

Nodding her head, she didn't say a word. "If you want to go take a break, it's fine by me. Clear your head okay?"

She nodded her head again before looking in the direction that Ambrose disappeared to. The back door? Hurrying over to the hallway, she looked around to see that no one could see her, before she disappeared from the hallway and teleported herself to the back alley. Thankful for her, she saw Ambrose not too far away…

The humidity in the night air hit him like a ton of bricks, but he wanted to get as far away from this place as possible. Go home and down a bottle of whiskey, something to end this horrible night. But Nick couldn't get as far as the end of the alley before someone's hand landed on his shoulder. Quickly and terrifyingly so, Nick turned around to face whomever was dumb enough to follow after him.

Nick turned on her with such a fierce attitude, Marissa gasped, but quickly got a hold of herself. No one intimidated her, but this guy had surprised her more than she had expected so far.

"Oh… I didn't think it was you." Nick turned on to keep walking, but Marissa grabbed his arm to stop him. "What!" He turned angrily again to face her.

Marissa matched his anger, throwing her hands on her hips and glaring at him. "I came out here to thank you! But now I'm not so sure I should since you're being such an ass to me when I did nothing to you."

He laughed at her. "Thank me? For what? For being an idiot? Ya know I have these intact instincts that let me know if it's a Daimon or not and…"

"It's okay. I'm actually flattered that you did that for me." Marissa told him. "My brother was just trying to scare a confession out of me. And you're right. He should have treated me better. Thank you for stepping in and defending me."

Marissa reached out and touched his arm. Nick didn't reject her. Shockingly, he just stared back into her eyes and wished this moment could last forever.

"I should have let you be." Nick said, his voice barely a whisper. Not knowing what possessed him to do so, Nick reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

It might have been easier to let go if she hadn't felt so good under his touch.

It might have been easier to let go if she hadn't leaned into his hand.

If she didn't look so delectable as her eyes closed and she breathed him in.

If she didn't open her eyes and look almost lovingly into his.

Like she cared. Like she could actually try to love him.

"Ambrose," She breathed, almost like a calling for help. Nick couldn't control it anymore. His sanity slipping, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle, and nice. His lips moved slowly against her own, feeling ecstatic that she was kissing him back, and moving in closer. The hand holding his arm stayed, but the other reached up behind his neck as Nick placed his arms on her waist and pulled her against him. Their tongues danced and Nick couldn't remember a kiss from a stranger ever being this good.

When he pulled away, all Marissa could think was wishing he would throw her up against the wall and make crazy sweet love to her, but all he did was smile down at her. She was expecting him to ask her to go back to his place, but Nick did no such thing. His words actually took her by surprise.

"I want to take you out."

Her eyes showed her surprise at his words, but she smiled at how out there the question was. Who was this guy? Now she was sure he wasn't a Dark-Hunter, because all she had ever heard of was what big man whores they were.

"Excuse me?"

"I want to take you out. Like on a date. Go out someplace nice, and I'll buy you dinner." Her saw her surprise and it worried him. What kind of guys did she go out with before that being asked out on a simple date surprised her. He felt like a perv for kissing her before taking her out first. Well… Twenty years ago maybe he wouldn't have. His immortality and aging was probably catching up to him as he appreciated how to treat a woman. "If that's okay with you."

His dimples made her weak in the knees as he smiled down at her. "Yeah. That would be great."

"What nights do you have off?" He asked.

She stopped to think. "I don't work Wednesday and Thursday."

"May I pick you up Wednesday night?" He asked sheepishly.

Her face showed her hesitation. She couldn't let him show up at her house. She lived at home during summer since the dorms were closed. If her Mom or Dad opened the door they would know this was the guy she said she'd ran into, and there was no way her father would let her leave with a Dark-Hunter. And NJ too… He'd probably jump him the second he saw him on his property.

"I can meet you somewhere." She said and saw that she'd offended him. "No offense, I don't mind you knowing where I live, but I think my brother would…"

Nick cursed. "Shit, I forgot all about that."

"It's okay. Like I said, maybe now he'll think twice before he tries to rough handle me."

"He better," Ambrose mumbled under his breath. Hearing him, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. That changed his mood. "Well, where ever you want to meet up, let me know, and I'll take you out."

"The moonwalk?"

Dimples showing once again, he nodded. "Sounds great. Six 'o clock okay?"

"Six is perfect."

Nick looked past her and saw Dev standing in the doorway watching them. "I better let you get back to work before you get fired."

Marissa nodded. "Well, thank you again, Ambrose."

"It was no problem. I'll see you Wednesday?"

She smiled. "It's a date."

"There you are!"

Marissa looked over her shoulder and saw Stephanie, Vanessa, Janet, and Mia sitting at a table. "What are you guys doing?"

"We said we'd come for your first night. Where were you?" Vanessa asked.

Mia stared at her for a few moments before sending her thoughts to Marissa. Who's the guy?

Marissa shot a look to Mia. What are you talking about?

Don't play dumb Risi. You know I can read you.

Marissa closed her eyes for a moment, concentrating, and then a moment later she opened her eyes again and shot a smirk to Mia. Try now.

Mia rolled her eyes. Very mature Marissa. Block me out.

Whatever works.

"What are you guys doing?" Janet asked. "You creep me out when you do that. It's like your talking to each other with your eyes, and no offense. Creepy."

"Sorry I wasn't here when you walked in. NJ came in and started some crap and I had to get some air before I killed him."

"What's his problem now?" Steph asked.

Marissa shook her head. "I'll tell you when I bring your drinks."

"We're actually ordering something from here?" Janet asked. She looked around the place as if totally repulsed. "It's a biker bar."

Why are you friends with this girl?

Shut up Mia. I've gone through school with her for over ten years.

"What do you guys want to drink?" She asked.

A few minutes later she returned with their drinks, and pretended to be taking orders for their meals when she was really dishing on what had happened with Ambrose.

"Funny. You run into the guy who looked like a drug dealer in a biker bar." Janet pointed out. "Well, if he attacked Nick, I guess Prince Charming is out of the runnings to be the next Mr. Marissa Hunter."

"Something like that." Marissa said. "I actually went out and thanked him for standing up for me."

"For real?" Stephanie asked, excited for her friend. "Thatta girl!"

"What happened?" Vanessa probed.

Marissa felt a blush creep on her cheeks as she confessed, "I'm going out with him on Wednesday."

Mia's eyes nearly bulged out of the sockets. "Are you kidding me?"

"No," She squeaked, finally able to show her excitement.

"Well if it isn't my favorite niece." An older male voice said. The girls looked over to see a handsome man in his thirties walk up to Vanessa. Dressed as a biker, the guy totally fit into the Sanctuary scene, but took Janet and Stephanie by surprise when he gave Vanessa of all people a hug. "Your Mom has no idea you're in here, does she?"

Vanessa smiled. "Of course not. She'd freak. Hell, so would my Dad."

Eros smirked. "Don't worry. I won't rat you out."

"Thanks Uncle Eros."

Janet looked between the two. "Oh, ha, ha. You guys are just trying to make me think that rumor about Cupid playing pool here is true. Nice try Vanessa."

Eros looked to Janet. "What are you calling my niece a liar, mortal?"

"Good one." She laughed, and nudged Stephanie. "'C'mon guys I'm not that gullible. Cupid is a mythological character."

"I'll show you a mythological character-"

Eros went to pull his bow out, but Marissa stopped him, freezing him in place.

Don't.

"I don't mess with your tricks, sorceress. So I'll play dirty and brings the Gods of Olympus with me if you don't release me." Eros' tone was threatening. "I saw you with the Malachai in the alley earlier. You don't want me going after him if you don't let me go, do you?"

Touch him and I'll rip you to shreds, and send you to your precious Psyche in a gift wrapped box.

"Ris' let him go." Vanessa told her.

"If he promises to behave." Marissa didn't leave his gaze.

Cupid scoffed. "You don't tell me what to do."

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh really."

"Ah!" He cried. "Dammit, little girl, don't make me do something you'll regret."

Putting freezes on people was always dangerous. Especially if you knew how to break them, because once the person who was frozen broke out, whoever did the action got an electric shot through their body.

"Marissa!" Vanessa shouted, "C'mon! Let him go!"

Mia saw on-lookers catch on that something was going on, and she couldn't let suspicions get too high. She raised her hands and froze time all together, every human in the bar were statue still, whereas the Were's and other paranormal beings were curious to what had happened. "Okay, knock this shit off! Marissa let him go before I summon Acheron."

Marissa looked to Mia. Don't you dare.

"What's going on?" A deep Atlantean accent asked. "Eros, what the hell are you doing?"

Before Marissa could say anything she felt her freeze on Eros was gone. He let out a deep breath and straightened his clothes. "Do that again you little bitch and-"

Eros' windpipe was closing in as Ash held an unseen hand against Eros' throat. "If I ever hear you talk to her that way again, I will see to it, that you spend the rest of eternity trapped in greeting cards."

Holding his hands up Eros knew better than to argue. "Okay. I'll walk away like this never happened."

"And if I ever catch you threatening my God-Child, or any of her friends, I won't have mercy next time." Ash let his grip on Cupid go as he turned to Janet. "Everything you just saw, didn't happen. All your beliefs on the supernatural are still the same." Turning to Marissa, and Mia, he patted their shoulders and gave them a squeeze, before dissolving in thin air and setting time back in motion.

Janet looked a bit lost as she looked around the bar. "What was I saying?"

Vanessa was eyeing Marissa, angry at how she'd treated her Uncle, but didn't say anything. "You weren't saying anything." She told her bitterly. "But I'm gonna catch you guys later."

Without a word, she and Eros left the table and walked away.

See now you're little mortal friend is making you get in fights with your immortal friends.

"Shut up, Mia!"

Her voice was loud enough to grab the attention of a few tables around her, and grab a curious look from Steph and Janet.

"Hey, girlie, can I talk to you?" Aimee stood beside Marissa, and she didn't look pleased.

Her shoulders sunk as the shock overtook her face. She followed Aimee to the back. I'm so fired.

"You're not fired."

"Are you serious? Why not?"

Aimee looked at her curiously. "Do you want to be fired?"

"Of course not, but it doesn't make sense. Day one-hell, hour one-"

"I have over ten brothers. My mother died many years ago, and I'm raising five boys right now. It's nice to have a girl around to break up the testosterone that's continuously surrounding my crazy life."

Marissa was confused now. "So, within an hour of me working here, my brother comes in and gets a fight started, and then I get back inside where my friends have shown up and nearly take out Cupid, and you're keeping me around because…?"

Aimee laughed. "Girl, Dark-Hunters go after Daimons all the time. They're not supposed to in here, but that wasn't your fault. And I know that your brother wasn't a daimon and I'm not sure why Nick went after him because the boy knows better," Marissa had to bite her tongue to defend that her brother didn't start the fight, but knew better than to argue with her boss. "But besides the point, it's nothing new for us here. And when you and Eros were having your little thing, you were keeping rationale as where he wasn't."

Marissa nodded. "I still think you should fire me."

"I'll fire you when you mess up orders, when you're rude, or if you don't bring peace. Like I was explaining, other people were the ones bringing chaos. You just happen to keep drawing it to you."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I just want you to know that a lot worse things have to happen before I cut you lose."

Marissa nodded. "Glad to know I've got the worlds coolest boss."

Laughing, "That you do. That you do."

"The Malachai is in New Orleans."

"What is your source?"

"He came into the bar Sanctuary tonight. Thought this boy was a Daimon and attacked. I'm surprised he wasn't thrown out and banished, especially after all the work the Peltiers had to go through to get their license back."

"So you were there."

"Yes My Lord."

Noir paused, but his anger came forth anyway. "Then why am I standing here having this conversation with you when you should be capturing me my Malachai!"

The small creature curled into a ball, hiding in the shadows. "I'm sorry My Lord, but he was with a very powerful sorceress. I'm unaware of her abilities, but I've never seen an aura of power as I have hers."

"You useless rat! Scared of a female! How did you end up on my service to begin with?"

The creature shook in fear. "I believe I do know who the girl was, Sir."

"What's going on in here?" It was Azura, emerging from the shadows into Noir's lair. She looked to the creature quivering in the corner. "What a disgusting little vermin. Why is he here and still breathing without our Malachai?"

Noir looked to his servant. "You better have good enough information if you want you life spared you little worm."

"I'm under a ninety-nine percent assumption that the girl holds the balance of all good and evil. That she's the one born to tame the most primal powers that came forth of the Source."

Noir eyed him curiously. "What makes you believe this?"

"I believe this because many years ago the Daimon King, Strykerius, was announcing that she was finally born, and he's wanted to possess her ever since. The girl looked the right age, and like I said, the aura of power… It was unbelievable, My Lord."

Azura looked bored. "You're evidence is weak, worm. Do you have anything else to prove she is who you believe her to be?"

The creature sighed. "No. I just found it odd that the Malachai didn't react to her or feel threatened. I saw her power, how did he not?"

That definitely rose Noir's suspicions. "She must have her powers shielded, and my only thinking for as to why you can see them and the Malachai can't is because you're a half bred demon who she wouldn't dream of ever running into."

"So you believe me, My Lord? That she is the balance of good and evil?"

Noir was silent for a moment, thinking over what he'd been told. "I believe, I'd have been much more happier with you had you brought me back my Malachai."

"No…" The creature knew what was coming.

"Say goodnight my very unfaithful servant." And before anyone else could blink, Noir shot a blast to the creature, splattering him all across the walls. "Have Jaden come in and clean up the mess. Make him useful for today."

As Noir went to leave his lair, a light struck in Azura's eyes. "Jaden…" She grabbed Noir by his arm to stop him from leaving. "Do you think he could investigate into this?"

"Into what?"

"Into seeing if this girl really is who that little creature claimed her to be."

Noir shrugged. "So what if she is? All I want is the Malachai so I can go forth with my plans of taking down the Greeks once and for all. So I can make Lord King Lightning Butt up there my bitch and have him grovel at my feet on his knees."

"What of Apollo?"

He looked to his sister. "We'll see how loyal he really is when all is said and done. But legend has it that when the destruction of the world happens, that he and his precious sister Artemis are the first to go."

She looked upset. "So we won't get to kill him?"

Noir smirked. "If it means that much to you, sister, I'll see what I can do."

She eyed him seductively. A way that would make any sane being sick. "I can't wait until our plan goes into effect."

"Neither can I, love. Neither can I."