Chapter Twelve: Coffee

"So how did you convince me to have coffee with you?" Raven said holding her vanilla latte in her right hand. She held it close to her lips and took a drink. She stared at the man in front of her with a grin spread on his face.

Wiggling his eyebrows, he said, "It's my face. Irresistible" His smirk grew larger.

She rolled her eyes and set down her beverage. "I could just leave you know. I've got things to do Mister Logan."

"I told you to call me Garfield. Mister Logan, just sounds so formal." he said, "Since we are trying to get to know each other to make up for what happened yesterday, I feel it may be right for you to call me Garfield."

"Whatever," she said tapping the lid of her coffee. "Listen, I know you mean well and have good intentions, but I don't feel like sharing all of my feelings. This isn't a hug time session. Whatever I want to say, I will say. Don't force me to say things I don't want to say. So, do I make myself clear Mister Logan?"

Garfield raised his eyebrow, "Only if you call me by my name."

"Fine" she spat and rubbed her forehead. She ran her fingers through her hair and pushed some of it back. After her hair was slightly pulled back, Garfield noticed that her roots were purple and there were a several sections of violet in her hair. However, the rest of her hair was clearly dyed black, although it did not fully conceal her natural hair color. Garfield remembered when he first read that book that demons have unnaturally colored hair He felt stupid that he never even noticed.

"You know if you dye your hair so much, your hair is going to fall out." Garfield spoke.

"You don't think I know that?" Her hand returned to her cup. "I dye it to get rid of this awful hair color."

"I think you would look cuter with all of your natural hair color." Garfield spoke not realizing what he just said.

She sighed annoyed. "I'll do whatever the hell I want to. It won't even matter how much I dye my hair, my natural color always seems to come through."

Feeling her annoyance, he tried to move on with the subject. "So, how does it feel to be a half-demon and all?" Garfield asked.

"Sucks." she said bitterly and took a drink of her coffee. "I'll most likely be the only half-demon you will ever meet."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"As I said before, I'll probably be the only half-demon you will ever meet." she replied.

"But, it's not like I've meet any other demon except in battle." he said.

She raised her lips in a smirk and lightly laughed. "You really are dense aren't you?"

"Why does everyone tell me that?"

"Because it's true." She continued to smirk. "Throughout your life, you have met countless demons without your knowledge."

"Not that I remember." he shrugged.

"Let's see," she pondered for a moment, "you know that girl that sits across the room in your Anatomy class? She has the aqua blue hair."

Garfield thought for a moment and came to her conclusion. "Seriously?"

Raven nodded. "And you know your mythology professor?"

His eyes widened. "You mean. . ." he trailed off and she nodded. "Damn. I guess I am dense."

"Told you so." she drank the rest of her coffee.

Garfield thought for moments and spoke. "So, okay I get what you meant earlier, but since I've met all of these friendly demons, why would you be the only half-demon I would meet?"

Raven stared at the man, debating whether or not to answer his question. She sighed. "Truly, no full-blooded demon wants to raise a half-demon or associate with them."

"I see," Garfield said "but what about you?"

"Damn you are annoying." She said with aggravation. She took a deep breath and sighed.

Feeling her frustration, he backed off defensively. "Okay, you don't need to answer that."

She held up her free hand. "I might as well say it since you inquired about it." She said and lowered her hand. "My mother fled to another dimension after being raped by my father. Surprisingly, to the city of Azarath. This truly concealed my presences for some time. You see after I was born, Trigon wanted my demise, but my mother thought otherwise. What other place to hide yourself and your child than Azarath? It was quint, but the ironic thing is, Azarath is where the origin of the Messors. Ironic how Pacifistic inhabitants raise a half-demon when they are demon hunters themselves." A small smile lit her face and she stared down at her empty coffee cup.

"So, demon hunters raised a half-demon?" he asked.

She nodded. "Correct. As much as I love talking about my wonderful childhood, I wish that we changed the subject. Since I gave a glimpse of my wonderful family, why don't you tell me about your family?"

"I really don't feel that it's right that I speak about myself." he said hesitantly.

Raven raised her eyebrow. "Listen, I asked you a simple question. I will make sure your life, as a Messor, is a living hell if you don't comply. Trust me, I know what hell is like."

"You don't mean that? Like you said yesterday, you never killed any of your Messors."

"There's a first time for everything Garfield. Don't tempt me."

"Might as well answer that because you called me by my name." he gave in. "My parents were biologists in Africa and when I was five, they died. I was adopted by my foster parents and moved here a few years later."

"Tragic." she said with a hint of emotion in her voice. She was about to speak when an unfamiliar voice interrupted her.

"Gar!" a man shouted and they looked at the voice. Garfield looked at the man and it was none other than Victor. He had forgotten that Vic habitually visited this coffee shop since it was close to campus. The man wore a devious grin on his face Garfield was immediately embarrassed to what his friend mightdo. Instead of ignoring his friend, he waved and greeted him. The man walked closer to their table and Raven wore a look of confusion.

"Hey man, haven't seen ya in a while." Vic said and looked over to the woman sitting across from Garfield and smiled. He returned his attention to his friend. "Man, I knew you had a girlfriend." Raven and Garfield's eye immediately shot wide and coughed.

"Vic, she isn't my girlfriend. She's my. . ." Garfield said but was interrupted.

"I'm his boss, Rachel Roth. You must be Victor Stone." she addressed the man extending her hand.

"You are correct ma'am." Victor replied shaking her hand. "But I never knew of a boss taking her employee out to coffee to be very common." Garfield's cheeks began to flush with red. He knew this wasn't going to end well.

"I know it may seem that way, but I lost a bet to Mister Logan and I had to comply with his demand taking his boss for a cup of coffee." she said.

"Oh, that's how they say it these days." Victor said feeling slightly unconvinced.

She smiled and said, "I don't mix business with pleasure Mister Stone. Did it once, it did not end in my favor. If I did, why would I choose him?"

Garfield mouth opened and surprisingly, Victor laughed. "Good point." Suddenly, Raven's phone rang and she excused herself from the table. The two men watched as she talked on her phone. Clearly, whomever she was talking to, it wasn't a good phone call.

Victor nudged his friend. "You can't tell me that you had your eye on that before?"

"No, I haven't" Garfield lied.

"She's got a hot ass body." Victor said nearly drooling.

"Dude! That's my boss!" Garfield shouted hoping Raven wouldn't hear.

Raven walked back to the table with anger in her expression. "Listen, I've got to go. One of dogs got lose and the whole place is in chaos without me. So, I'm going. It was a pleasure meeting you Victor Stone. Garfield, you are scheduled to come in eight." she said and left without their response. She walked to her Porsche and drove off. Victor and Garfield sat befuddled how fast she got up and out of the coffee shop.