KuroKoneko Kamen's Blog

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When I was first coming up with the concept of having Druid Vampire Hunter, Derek Dearg, use his Druidic magic to will his Celtic animal tattoos to peel off his arms and fight for him, I hadn’t come up with the idea of having different “power levels” yet. But as I searched for images of the most interesting battle tattoos to give Derek I realized that small animals have their own strengths and abilities, and so do larger animals. That’s how Derek ended up with the following battle tattoos: hawk, python, stag, wolf, panther, bear, and dragon. I wanted Dearg’s love interest, Cinnia, to have more feminine battle tattoos, and that’s why she ended up with the following: butterfly, snake, cat, fox, unicorn, and dragon.

Excerpt from the novel Druid Vampire about Battle Tattoos:

“At the age of twelve, a Druid Vampire Hunter trainee would get their first battle tattoo. There were different levels of battle tattoos and each level needed a different amount of magical power and skill to control.

Level one battle tattoos were usually small creatures that could be used for spying on vampires. The ink creatures would gather information about the location of the vampires’ cave lairs, and how many vampires lived therein. These tattoos were usually: birds, fish, and insects.

Level two battle tattoos were small creatures that could be used for spying, but also attacking. This was the first real attack tattoo that the trainees got. These tattoos were usually: snakes or rats. Snakes were small enough to spy on vampires, but also a good attack tattoo because a snake could constrict around a vampire’s neck and decapitate it.

Level three battle tattoo were medium-sized creatures such as: cats, dogs, stags, and foxes. These creatures could be used as diversions to help one escape from vampires, or paired with larger ink creatures in coordinated attacks.

Level four battle tattoos were large-sized creatures such as wolves and panthers. These creatures could easily bite into the neck of a vampire and rip their head off.

Level five battle tattoos were animals used for transportation and riding such as: horses, unicorns, bulls and bears.

Level six battle tattoos were dragon tattoos. Dragon tattoos were the most powerful tattoos in one’s arsenal. It took the most magical power to control this tattoo. Usually, the dragon was placed on the entire back of the Druid, and with lots of Celtic knots and spells in the design for protection.”

Tristan Savant is a man on a mission…

Tristan flies to San Francisco in pursuit of Issy Sweet. He goes to Poseidon’s Trident to ask Brawler Chef, Levi Devlin, for help in finding Issy. Meanwhile, Issy opens a bakery with Ambrose Rune as her assistant patissier. Issy’s new bakery is named Dolly’s Tea Party Bakery. Tristan plans to make Dolly’s the number one bakery franchise in America to get retribution on his father.

Unlikely allies help Tristan on the path to true love…

At Poseidon’s Trident, Tristan befriends Levi’s fellow chefs – the bohemian, tattoo covered Derek Dearg, the gentle Goth, Malakye Sterling, and the scarred, friendly giant, Garfield Mackenzie. With their help Tristan gains the confidence he needs to go to Dolly’s to confess his love to Issy. However, when he sees Hazel’s ghost he’s overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and no longer able to confess.

A haunting past that must be overcome…

In order to stay close to Issy, Tristan buys a truck and opens up a mobile chocolate shop. However, Tristan is separated from Issy when his mother Lilith kidnaps him and takes him to Hell. Tristan learns of a Battle Royal Tournament where the prize is a magic lamp containing a demonic genie who can grant three wishes. Tristan decides to win the lamp in order to use it to save Hazel’s damned soul. Only then will he be free to love Issy Sweet.

Bonus Features: Fans of ‘Rockstar Ghost’ will enjoy guest appearances of characters from the paranormal romance novel. When Hazel possesses Rosalie Galloway’s body she tries to seduce Tristan in order to convince him to commit suicide and join her in Hell. Issy ends up making Ro and Blake’s wedding cake, attends the rockstar wedding of the year, and at the reception Carrie does a Tarot card reading that reveals Tristan’s been taken to Hell. Issy becomes determined to stalk Tristan – no matter what.

Author’s note: Swearwords and graphic sexual content have been removed to make this more appropriate for my Teen readers. Please understand that due to the fact that the main character is a sex demon there will be unavoidable references to sex and sexual activities. I have censored this book to the best of my abilities. Thank you for your understanding and enjoy the book.

Tristan Savant is a man on a mission…

Tristan flies to San Francisco in pursuit of Issy Sweet. He goes to Poseidon’s Trident to ask Brawler Chef, Levi Devlin, for help in finding Issy. Meanwhile, Issy opens a bakery with Ambrose Rune as her assistant patissier. Issy’s new bakery is named Dolly’s Tea Party Bakery. Tristan plans to make Dolly’s the number one bakery franchise in America to get retribution on his father.

Unlikely allies help Tristan on the path to true love…

At Poseidon’s Trident, Tristan befriends Levi’s fellow chefs – the bohemian, tattoo covered Derek Dearg, the gentle Goth, Malakye Sterling, and the scarred, friendly giant, Garfield Mackenzie. With their help Tristan gains the confidence he needs to go to Dolly’s to confess his love to Issy. However, when he sees Hazel’s ghost he’s overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and no longer able to confess.

A haunting past that must be overcome…

In order to stay close to Issy, Tristan buys a truck and opens up a mobile chocolate shop. However, Tristan is separated from Issy when his mother Lilith kidnaps him and takes him to Hell. Tristan learns of a Battle Royal Tournament where the prize is a magic lamp containing a demonic genie who can grant three wishes. Tristan decides to win the lamp in order to use it to save Hazel’s damned soul. Only then will he be free to love Issy Sweet.

Bonus Features: Fans of ‘Rockstar Ghost’ will enjoy guest appearances of characters from the paranormal romance novel. When Hazel possesses Rosalie Galloway’s body she tries to seduce Tristan in order to convince him to commit suicide and join her in Hell. Issy ends up making Ro and Blake’s wedding cake, attends the rockstar wedding of the year, and at the reception Carrie does a Tarot card reading that reveals Tristan’s been taken to Hell. Issy becomes determined to stalk Tristan – no matter what.

The Heavens will stand in the way of the love between a demon and a human…

Coldhearted Archangel Raphael appears to Michael and offers him a proposition. If Michael kills Dante he’ll be granted the privilege of staying by Joan’s side in his human form for the rest of her life. When Michael fails to kill Dante it’s up to Raphael to fight in his place. But when Dante wins their battle he unexpectedly spares the Archangel’s life. Raphael decides to become a bartender in order to ‘defeat’ Dante in another way.

Those in Hell are also determined on keeping the fated lovers apart…

Lilith will stop at nothing to get her revenge upon Joan and orders her lover Samael to kidnap Joan and bring her to Hell. Dante forms a party of unlikely heroes to go into Hell and rescue Joan. A new ally in the form of a half-incubus joins their party. He is Tristan Savant, a chocolatier. Tristan later becomes a diabolic cupid when he uses his aphrodisiac chocolates to help Dante and Joan consummate their love.

The mystery of Alan’s family curse is finally revealed…

On St. Patrick’s Day, Alan earns his ‘pot of gold’ only to discover he must now pay the price in the form of Carmen’s head. An epic battle between Dante and the headless horsewoman, Arienh, takes place. With the unlikely help of Dante’s rival, Raphael, the curse is finally broken. But Dante and Joan must overcome one final hurdle before they can finally be together. Will Dante realize that the path to redemption lies in an act of self-sacrifice?

A forbidden love story erased from the history books…

Ever wonder why Jeanne d’Arc was forsaken by God and burned at the stake? In the year 1430 Jeanne d’Arc fell in love with a demon reputed to be the Great Duke of Hell, Dantalion, with scores of demon legions under his command. His goal was to begin the Apocalypse but Jeanne d’Arc was there to stand in his way. And unexpectedly to fall in love.

Reincarnated soul-mates will find each other centuries later…

Joan Simone is a young 21st Century woman who just wants to channel her pent-up aggression into tennis. However, a horrible car accident dashes her dreams of playing tennis professionally. After that she ends up having to get a job as a waitress, and if that wasn’t bothersome enough – her golden retriever reveals he can talk and awakens memories of her past life. Joan discovers that she was Jeanne d’Arc in her past life and that God has a new mission for her. Seek and destroy the lesser demons in New York City and prevent the Apocalypse.

A demon bartender as intoxicating as a cocktail…

A demon minion frees the Great Duke of Hell, Dantalion, by breaking a seal that’s kept him pinned to a tree and asleep for centuries. Lucifer has cursed Dantalion with a human body and a new mission. He must live among the humans until the time Dantalion is to begin the Apocalypse. Dantalion decides to become a bartender at Dullahan’s Irish Pub and encounters a waitress with hauntingly familiar green eyes…

The sequel and the grand finale, to my paranormal romance novel “Rockstar Ghost” – “Rockstar Ghost Resurrection” has been published and is now available in the Kindle store. Enjoys peeps!

Wicked Bartender

Bartending…has never been so wicked.

By KuroKoneko Kamen

Drink 1:

Dark and Stormy

Green eyes.

Pale green eyes filled with tears.

That was that last thing Dantalion – Great Duke of Hell with thirty-six legions of demons under his command – remembered before he was sealed away by a holy maiden with a shinning golden sword.

He had been stabbed through the chest, pinned to a tree, and then he remembered the leafy vines of ivy that began to wrap around his body and cover his entire body until absolute darkness enveloped him and all his senses.

The pressure of those vines was suddenly loosening. He could feel a tingling sensation in his limbs. He could move his pink finger. The vines began to coil away from his body and he began to fall forward away from the tree that he had become a part of, bark splintering with an audible crack.

“JOAN?! Why?” Dantalion hollered, as he broke free of his bonds.

He blinked.

He expected the warrior maiden to be directly in front of him but she was not…

“Um…excuse me, My Lord?” Came a slimy voice.

Dantalion looked down and saw a lesser demon, an imp. He was two feet fall, had spindly limbs, greenish skin, black bulbous eyes, pointed ears, fangs, bat-like wings and a long tail.

Dantalion raised an eyebrow at the imp. “Yes? Speak cretin.” Dantalion replied absentmindedly as he looked around his surroundings. Odd. He remembered having fought the holy maiden in a large open field but this…was no field.

The area he was in had lots of trees and places that were obviously man-made where different flowering plants had been planted though most appeared to be dying because of the cold weather. Dantalion quickly deduced that he was in some kind of human ‘park’. But how had he gotten there?

He looked behind him at the tree that he had been sealed to and noticed a bronze plaque with writing on it: Gift of France. The words were surprisingly in English and not in French. How long had he been asleep? Had the English won the war and occupied France?

“Lord Dantalion…my name is Ajax. And it is I who has awakened you from your slumber.” Ajax declared proudly as he puffed up his chest and gave Dantalion an expectant look. When he received no response he continued. “I’m the one who broke the holy seal upon you.”

Dantalion’s attention shifted back to the imp. “You broke the seal? How?” He eyed the lesser demon suspiciously. The seal had been incredibly powerful so it didn’t seem very likely that an imp had been able to break it all on his own.

“Master Satan sent me here to do so and gave me just enough power to accomplish this task. It’s been hundreds of years so the seal of God’s Chosen had finally weakened.” Ajax explained.

“Master Satan? How many years have I been pinned to this tree exactly?” Dantalion asked, fearing the answer.

“You were sealed in 1429 so…584 years.” Ajax quickly supplied.

“584 years?” Dantalion murmured. Then the Maiden of Orleans is dead long past… “The year is…?”

“2013 my Lord,” Ajax readily supplied.

Dantalion sent a glare the demon’s way. He had already figured that out himself. “My mission?” Dantalion questioned, his hand drifting down to the hilt of his sword.

The imp rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Master Satan awakened you because the Apocalypse draws near and he will have need of you. Until then Master Satan commands that you live as a human, blend in among human kind, and await further instructions.”

Dantalion blinked in confusion. “As a human but…” Dantalion looked down at his hands and his eyes widened in surprise. He removed his hand from the hilt of his sword to better inspect his hands. He had normal human hands with short nails. No claws.

He reached his hands up to the top of his head and discovered his horns were gone. He looked behind him and noted that his impressive bat-like wings and sinuous tail were also gone. Dantalion calmly inspected his human appearance…his now human body…

The imp was giving Dantalion a sympathetic look. “I know how you must feel, My Lord. To have to live as a lowly human is…regrettable. But I’m sure it won’t be long before Satan makes his will known, and you get to fight for his noble cause once more!”

After a few minutes Dantalion smiled, which under normal circumstances was never a good thing. Ajax shuddered at the sight and began to shift from one foot to the other out of nervousness.

Dantalion began to cackle. “I get to live as a human! As a human! That’s…wonderful.” He said softly to himself.

“My Lord?” Ajax looked at Dantalion startled, wide-eyed, and completely misunderstood why Dantalion was suddenly laughing. “What…? My Lord…do not worry. If this form so offends you all you have to do is harvest some magical energy and your form will return to its original one. You can start by harvesting some fear from some lowly humans…torturing them…killing them…all these things will restore your power and your true form instantly.”

Abruptly, the smile fell from Dantalion’s face and his attention snapped back to the imp. “Ajax…who else is aware of my…awakening?”

The imp blinked. “Just Master Satan who sent me. I am to be your loyal servant. Master Satan will speak through me in order to give you your orders. I have the ability of traveling back and forth from Hell to Earth, which is why I was chosen for this task. I am a Messenger of Satan.”

“A Messenger…” Dantalion said wistfully, before he shook his head. He glared down at the imp with a fierce, evil look. “Thank you for the information, Ajax.” The demon drawled before his hand snapped out, wrapped around the imp’s throat, and began to squeeze.

The imp brought his bony hands up to his neck and tried to pry Dantalion’s hand away. He began to choke and gasp for breath. He gave Dantalion a confused, betrayed look. “My Lord…why? I am your loyal servant.”

“Exactly.” Dantalion said as a wicked smile curled his lips. His golden eyes were as cold as ice. Dantalion lifted the imp off the ground and continued to clench his hand around the imp’s neck until a sickening crack rang through the park.

Dantalion tossed the imp’s lifeless body aside. He was free…at least for the moment. He planned to enjoy this…interesting experience for as long as he could. 

The Duke of Hell began to swiftly make his way through the park. The leaves of the nearby trees were already beginning to change color and Dantalion deduced that it was autumn. He noticed a few weak presences of filthy humans wearing tattered clothing sitting around the park, and even sleeping beneath a tiny bridge. They were harmless and no threat, so Dantalion simply ignored these humans and continued on his way. As he made his way through the park more and more humans came into view. Very strange looking humans…

There was a man dressed in a black and white tuxedo with a long black cape with a bright red lining. The man had his hair slicked back and there were noticeable fangs poking out of his mouth. Blood was dripping down from his fangs.

A fellow demon? Dantalion wondered for a moment but sniffed the air. No…he smells human.

A heavy set man accompanied the trio that was heading Dantalion’s way. He had long, curly, black hair, and a black bandana tied around his head that had white skull and crossbones on it. He was wearing an all black outfit; black boots with cuffs and a cutlass was strapped to his side. A pirate. Dantalion deduced and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to do battle if need be.

The last member of their group had Dantalion’s jaw dropping slightly but he quickly closed it. A young woman with flowing blonde hair and bright blue eyes was dressed up as Wonder Woman. She was wearing a golden headband with a red star on it, a gold and red corset, blue underwear with white stars on it, and red and gold boots. It was the most outrageously scandalous outfit Dantalion had ever seen! Even the whores of Satan didn’t dress so provocatively! A prostitute or courtesan? Dantalion wondered. Whore of Satan…?

Dantalion unsheathed his double-edged great sword and pointed it at the suspicious group of people approaching him. “Halt, humbles humains!” Dantalion spoke to the trio in French saying: ‘Halt lowly humans’.

The group of teens hadn’t understood what Dantalion had said but they indeed stopped to take a better look at what he was wearing:

Dantalion was wearing a black shirt and black pants. Over this he was wearing a gold breastplate of armor. He had on a pair of heavy boots. A belt with a sword sheath was strapped around his waist, and a long dramatic cloak with claws on the shoulders was flapping out behind him in the wind.

“Ooo. A demon lord? Nice.” The young man dressed as a vampire complimented.

“Sweet costume, dude.” The pirate said and when Dantalion didn’t respond he said more slowly. “That was French before wasn’t it? Do you speak English?”

Dantalion’s eye twitched in irritation. “Of course I know how to speak English.” The demon replied in perfect English. Dantalion was able to speak hundreds of languages. Just whom did this young man think he was talking to?

The girl giggled, as she looked Dantalion over before batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at him. “A very handsome demon.”

Costume? Dantalion thought as he raked his hand back through his chin-length, wavy black hair, and lowered his sword. Ah, this must be some kind of human festival…Samhain perhaps?

“You three…pray tell, what day is it?” Dantalion asked.

The teens all looked at each other with amused expression on their faces.

“Dude, it’s Halloween…but you obviously know that with the way you’re dressed! Trying to stay in character? Role playing?” The vampire asked curiously.

“Halloween.” Dantalion repeated. I see. All Soul’s Day. “Thank you for the information. You may continue on your way. I will spare your lives. Consider yourselves lucky.”

The teens laughed at that and began to walk away from Dantalion. The boy seemed to think my attire was unusual for this era. I will have to remedy this immediately. The demon mused to himself as he stroked his chin.

Dantalion continued to walk through Central Park until he exited and came to a sidewalk that was right next to a street. Dantalion stomped his boot down against the odd, perfectly flat surface. How odd. It seems the humans have perfected how to make their cobbled streets. The demon looked up and took a single step back at the shock of what he was seeing…!

These strange ‘things’ were speeding past him at an incredible speed (they were even faster than dragon mounts!) on what must have been a road of some kind. Calm yourself Dantalion and think logically. Dantalion observed the ‘things’ a moment longer and used his keen vision to see within the ‘things’. He could instantly see that there were humans inside of the things, but they didn’t look trapped or afraid so the only logical conclusion was…

Ah, carriages. Dantalion nodded to himself. These must be modern-day carriages. Not bad, lowly humans. The Duke of Hell was impressed. Though the same feat could have easily been accomplished by a demon using magic…

Dantalion looked across the street. He needed to cross and search for a library so that he could learn more about the world and the strange era he had been awakened to.

That’s when he saw her-!

A young woman dressed in silver armor with closely cropped hair and a sword strapped to her side. “Joan?!” Dantalion exclaimed as he watched her walk past on the other side of the street. The young woman was laughing and surrounded by a group of friends who were dressed strangely. Probably in costume.

Dantalion glared at the cars defiantly. “Nothing will stop me from confronting that wench about her betrayal! I’m not afraid of these stupid human carriages!” The demon declared as he began to stalk across the street as the cars sped by.

A car was heading straight for him, and Dantalion turned and put out his hand. “I command you to halt, pathetic human!”

The car honked and did not stop; bright headlights headed Dantalion’s way.

And then someone was gripping him and tugging him backwards. “Look out!” A female voice shouted.

Dantalion fell back onto the body of someone as they crashed down upon the sidewalk and out of harm’s way. Dantalion looked down at the person who had dared to touch him…!

It was a young woman. No, a nun. She was dressed in a long white and blue habit, a conservative white and blue dress, and a wooden cross was hanging from her neck. Dantalion’s heavy armor was crushing the poor girl’s chest. It was too dark to see the color of the woman’s eyes.

Dantalion bit down on his tongue to stop the insults that wanted to fly out of his mouth. Dantalion had met a few nuns before and they always grew extremely angry if one cursed in front of them. The demon continued to stare down at the young woman and she stared up at him as if frozen in fear. Then the girl’s dog that was with her began to bark and growl angrily at Dantalion – snapping both of them out of their daze.

Dantalion looked over at the girl’s dog curiously. He’d never seen a dog quite like it before. It was around 80/90 pounds, and had glossy, silky, golden-yellow hair. It was also dressed in a costume: a red, white, and blue outfit with a red cap, and an ‘S’ on its chest.

Humans clothe their pets now? What has the world come to? Dantalion quickly got off of the young nun and apologized. “Forgive me…sister.” He offered his hand to her to help her up.

The nun looked at Dantalion with wide eyes as she took his hand and allowed him to help her up. As the nun looked Dantalion over her face paled. “You look so much like…” She quickly shook her head and gave Dantalion a bemused smile. ‘That’s one hell of a costume! However.” Her expression returned to its stern one. “Just what the hell did you think you were doing?” The nun questioned as she stalked towards Dantalion and jabbed her finger into the demon’s golden breastplate.

“Ow…” The girl looked down at her finger in surprise. “That’s not plastic. Anyways…you could just wait for the walk signal to turn green! What’s wrong with you? Are you drunk?” She accused.

“Walk signal…” Dantalion murmured as he looked over to where the young woman pointed. He saw a strange magical device stop flashing red and instead start flashing green. The ‘things’ stopped and humans began to cross the street effortlessly. “I see.” Dantalion caught sight of the young woman in armor again but she was getting farther away! “I must go. Thank you for your assistance, sister. I will spare your life.” Dantalion said hurriedly before he took off running down the crosswalk after the girl in armor…leaving the startled nun behind.

Dantalion made it to the other side of the street and began to run down the sidewalk in the direction of the girl in armor and her group of friends. He reached her group in a matter of seconds and reached out to grab her shoulder spinning her around to face him.

“Joan?!” Dantalion asked as he stared intently into the girl’s face. “What are you doing here alive in this era?” He grabbed her upper arms and squeezed them painfully.

The girl’s eyes widened in fright and she screamed. “Ahhh! Someone help me! This man…he’s hurting me!”

Dantalion furrowed his brow in confusion at the panicking young woman. “Joan…it’s me…Dantalion! There’s no need to be afraid! But I must ask you…why did you betray me?”

The girl shook her head as tears came to her eyes. “I…don’t know what you’re talking about! Someone help! This guy is crazy!”

“Police! Police! Over here! Help us!” The girl’s friends called out.

A couple of nearby cops immediately ran over to assist the girl and her friends. The cop placed his hand on Dantalion’s shoulder and pulled him away from the girl. “Sir, I must ask you to unhand that young lady at once.”

Dantalion spun around to face the two men in uniform. “How dare you touch me, you lowly human.” Dantalion’s hand went automatically for the sword at his hip.

The two cops responded in kind and drew their guns and pointed them at Dantalion.

“He’s got a weapon!” One of the cops said with wide eyes.

“Don’t do it, kid.” The other cop said sternly with a dark scowl on his face.

But then Dantalion remembered the imp’s words: he could already feel the fear building inside of the surrounding humans and his magical power was beginning to increase. Damnation. If this continued horns would probably sprout out of the top of his head!

Dantalion removed his hand from the hilt of his sword and put his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “Mes excuses, I mean, my apologies, gentlemen.”

The cops put their guns away and approached Dantalion. “It’s okay kid, but you’re coming with us. That sword of yours looks real and you assaulted that girl. We’ll have to file a report. For now, we want you to come to the station with us.”

Dantalion nodded, not knowing where the hell this so-called ‘station’ was. The cops handcuffed Dantalion and began to lead him to their own strange ‘carriage’. They got inside and began to speed off down the road. Dantalion sighed. Until he knew more about this era he would continue to get himself into trouble like this. He had gained a little magical power back there and so decided to put it to good use.

“Gentlemen…look into my eyes…” Dantalion commanded.

The two cops obeyed and looked into Dantalion’s golden eyes. Dantalion’s eyes glowed as he began to use his hypnosis upon them. “Now gentlemen, you will take me to the nearest library.” Dantalion commanded.

“As you wish, My Lord.” The cops said in unison.

Dantalion smiled a wicked smile. He used his hypnosis to find out that the cops were ‘keepers of the peace’ in this city. The ‘modern carriage’ he was in was called a ‘car’. He also discovered that he was not in France, but in a country called ‘America’ and in a city called ‘New York City’.

He recalled the plaque he had seen on the tree he had been sealed to that had read: Gift of France. Someone must have transported the tree from France to America and planted the tree in the park. Apparently, the stage for the Apocalypse had changed.

The cops drove Dantalion to the nearest library. It was closed but for Dantalion it was easy enough to unlock the door with a burst of magick. The demon made his way into the library. It was quite impressive. Dantalion immediately searched for the books on history. He needed to get back up to speed. He wanted to learn of everything he had missed since the year 1429. He used to be a learned Master in all arts and sciences, but apparently much had changed.

Dantalion found several history books, carried them over to a long wooden table, set them down, and then began to read. He read of the world’s history from the year 1429 all the way until the present day 2013. Hours later, Dantalion stumbled across something rather unsettling.

In 1920 Joan of Arc was canonized a Saint.

Dantalion read:

Saint Joan of Arch, the maid of Orleans is a recognized Saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Although she was excommunicated and burned at the stake by local officials in 1431, Central Church officials would later nullify her excommunication, declaring her a martyr unjustly executed for a secular vendetta. Her legend would grow from there, leading to her beautification in 1909 and her canonization in 1920.

The blood drained from Dantalion’s face and he sat back in his chair looking stunned. “But how…how is that possible? Joan was burned at the stake? It makes no sense…” Dantalion shook his head as he remembered the powerful young woman who wielded the holy sword of God.

He remembered the fierce battle Joan’s army had fought against one of his legions. Joan had won the day. Well, she had been winning the day until the both of them had fallen off that cliff together…

She was a loyal, faithful servant of God. She had ultimately betrayed their ‘truce’ and ‘friendship’, and had sealed him to a tree. Surely, God didn’t see that as a betrayal? Why had God allowed Joan to be burned at the stake? Why had her visions stopped so suddenly? Why had her luck changed? Why had she fallen out of God’s graces?

Was it because of him? Had God known about their friendship? Had he disapproved? Had Joan paid the price?

Dantalion felt guilt well up inside of him. “God…I curse you once again for taking those that are dear to me.” Dantalion growled aloud. “Damnation, if I had been there I could have protected Joan. I would have killed all of those lowly humans that dared to harm her! But who…who is responsible for this…?”

Dantalion continued his research about what had happened to Joan after she had sealed him to that tree. The demon discovered that King Charles had betrayed Joan. After Joan’s defeat in Paris, Charles refused to give her an army and then Joan had been captured in a battle against the Burgundians. The thought of Joan being locked up in some tower made Dantalion’s blood boil.  Charles had failed to pay Joan’s ransom.

“Argh!” Dantalion roared in anger and frustration as he grabbed the table in front of him and overturned it. “Stupid humans…how could they condemn an innocent girl to die? Especially, one so pure…so perfect…so strong. Damn them. Damn you, Charles. You’re lucky you’re dead or I’d have your head!”

The Duke of Hell was so angry and frustrated by what had happened to Joan that he went on a rampage and began overturning tables and bookshelves throughout the library. He threw a few computers down to the floor and one exploded. A fire started and the books began to catch on fire and burn.

Burn burn burn! Dantalion wanted everything to burn. He was so angry. He had learned all he needed to know anyways. Or at least enough. The demon was sure anything else he could learn would only enrage him further. Humans were such foolish creatures. They were always burning or crucifying the only humans among them that had any merit.

The smoke detectors detected smoke and the sprinkler system inside of the library began to turn on. As the alarm came on, Dantalion began to make his way out of the library angrily. He opened the front door and exited, his cloak billowing out behind him.

The demon began to walk down the sidewalk. First thing first, Dantalion knew he needed a human identity to begin his life living as a human in this city. He would need to acquire the proper identifications – a driver’s license at the DMV, a passport at the American Embassy, and a Social Security number. All this would be easy to do with his hypnosis.

However, all the places he needed to visit wouldn’t be open until tomorrow morning. At that moment Dantalion’s stomach grumbled. He stopped and looked around him at the strange sound. His stomach grumbled again and he put a hand to his stomach, and when his stomach grumbled a third time he understood. He was hungry…or rather his now ‘weak’ human body of his needed to consume food. How bothersome.

Apparently, he needed to find food and then shelter for the night. Dantalion looked around him at the strange tall buildings and artificial lights. These were the modern day dwellings of the humans. But after having done his research at the library, Dantalion understood that one needed money to acquire such a dwelling…something that would be rectified very soon.

Dantalion thought back to the park that he had been awakened in. He now knew that the name of the park was Central Park. He remembered seeing filthy, foul-smelling humans dressed in tattered clothing just sitting around or sleeping under the small bridge there. He knew these people to be ‘homeless’.

Apparently, the park would have to do as a suitable place to spend the night. Dantalion made his way back to Central Park and entered. He walked through the park until he saw a large flock of pigeons pecking away at some food on the ground.

Dinner.

Dantalion unsheathed his great sword and approached the flock of pigeons as quietly as he could. Just as he was almost upon them the flock noticed his presence and took off into the air. The Duke of Hell sprang into action and charged forward with a battle cry. His sword flashed through the air as he stabbed pigeons through their bodies with quick, deadly jabs. Dantalion’s movements were as graceful as if he were dancing. The demon killed several of the elusive birds and bodies of dead pigeons began to fall on the ground all around him. He killed twenty pigeons in all.

The demon could feel curious eyes upon him but he ignored it as he collected his birds and then sat down upon the ground, cross-legged, and began to pluck and gut the birds with a dagger he pulled from his boot.

Once Dantalion had finished preparing the birds he pulled one of the birds into his lap and ripped off a leg. Dantalion was about to sink his teeth into the raw pigeon leg when-

A stranger called out to him.

“Hold it right there, sonny boy,” Came a gravely voice.

Dantalion turned to see an old man hobbling towards him. Dantalion deduced the man to be around sixty years of age. He had white hair, an unkempt white beard, tattered clothes, a slight limp, and had a crude wooden cane. The old man’s left arm ended in a metal hook instead of a hand.

The old man snatched the pigeon leg out of Dantalion’s hand before the demon could react. “You can’t eat that.” The homeless man declared.

Dantalion stood using his full height of nearly seven feet to intimidate the old man as he glared down at him. “How dare you steal my food, you lowly human. Normally, I would have beheaded you instantly…consider yourself lucky my circumstances have changed.” My curiosity for what it would be like to live as a human currently outweighs anything else.

The old man just laughed brokenly. “Oh? Are you going to kill me with that sword of yours? I watched you as you killed those pigeons. That was pretty impressive…” The old man gave Dantalion an expectant look.

Dantalion shrugged. “I was in…the army. I excel in the art of killing.”

“I see. I was in the military too.” The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully before spreading his arms wide. “If you want to kill me – go right ahead. I don’t have much to live for anyways.”

Dantalion removed his hand from the hilt of his sword. This old man was not afraid of Death. He had to respect that. “What do you want, old man?” Dantalion growled in a low voice.

“If you’re so desperate to eat those birds…you need to cook them first. They’ll end up tasting much better! Bring your birds and come with me. I know just where to go!” The old man quickly explained.

Dantalion decided to just go along with the old man for now – his curiosity getting the better of him. Dantalion began to follow the old man through the park.

“Hey, so what’s your name kid?” The old man asked.

“Dantalion.”

The old man looked behind him and raised a bushy eyebrow at the strange youth. “That’s quite a mouthful. Why don’t I just call you Dante? I’m Fred, by the way. You have an accent…are you French?”

Dantalion’s eye twitched. The impertinence of this man was incredible. How dare this lowly human shorten his name! And apparently his English was not perfect. This irritated Dantalion greatly. But perhaps he could use the guise of being a foreigner to his advantage. “Yes, I’m French.”

Fred nodded knowingly. “I see, I see. Maybe it’s normal for French people to eat pigeons…they do eat frogs and snails!”

Dantalion decided not to comment. The demon followed the old man to a different area of the park where several homeless people were huddled around metal trashcans that had fires burning within them for warmth.

“Hey guys!” Fred greeted the others. “Lookie what I have here. It’s a newcomer and he’s brought food! Let’s cook up these here…chickens! They’re fresh.” The old man quickly explained.

Chickens? Dantalion mused. He knew what a chicken was and the birds he had killed were most certainly not chickens. He shrugged. There must have been a reason why Fred chose to lie about the type of fowl he had procured.

“Hey Fred,” an elderly woman in a purple dress greeted while giving Dantalion a curious sidelong look. She did a double take as she looked at the handsome demon over from head to toe. “Fred…have you been drinking again? He’s obviously not…one of us.”

Dantalion stiffened at the woman’s words. Had he been found out already? Was this old woman a witch? Did she know his true form?

Fred frowned at the woman. “Hilda…I don’t know if the kid’s homeless or not but…he’s definitely in need. The kid’s starving…he was about to eat those…chickens raw. So let’s help him out with cooking his chickens first. Then we’ll see about the rest…”

Hilda looked at the bundle of twenty birds in Dantalion’s arms. “They’re a little small for chickens. But I suppose you’re right. Alright, young man, bring those birds over here and we’ll spit them on sticks and roast them over these fires…”

Dantalion nodded and approached Hilda. Together they spitted all of the birds and soon had them roasting over the fires. The demon couldn’t fail but notice the hungry looks his ‘chickens’ were getting from the other homeless people. He sighed. Pathetic humans…they can’t even catch their own dinner.

“When they’re ready do help yourself gentlemen…and of course ladies.” Dantalion drawled to the group of homeless people that were huddling around the trashcans.

“YEA!” “Whoo!” “Yes!” “Food! Oh thank God!” “God bless you…” “God has sent us a savior…!”

Dantalion’s eye twitched. How ironic.

When Satan ordered him to kill all of the people in this city later on…he would do it because he was Satan’s pawn – a Great Duke of Hell, a warrior, a killer. In France he and his legions of demons had wiped out several villages until Joan of Arc had stopped his demonic army and the Apocalypse had been postponed once more. But now apparently there was a new stage for the Apocalypse and this country of ‘America’ was it.

Yes, he would kill all of these pathetic humans without a thought later because he’d just be following orders…and that was what WAR was all about…mindless slaughter…

Ironic calling the one who would probably kill them later ‘God sent’.

“Hardly.” Dantalion said gruffly as he tore off a now cooked pigeon leg and took a bite out of it. The meat was succulent and only slightly tough. He was incredibly hungry though so he felt it tasted delicious.

All the homeless people were happy and thanked Dantalion profusely for his generosity.
They all began to eat together. It was a strange feeling…being surrounded by humans and for them to be ‘accepting’ him. They weren’t running from him in fear or yelling out things like:

“Ahhh! Demon!” “Run for your lives!” “Oh no…it’s a monster!” “Someone please help me!”

Fred put a hand on Dantalion’s shoulder. “You okay kid? You look pale.”

Dantalion shrugged the hand off his shoulder. “Of course I’m okay…why wouldn’t I be?” Dantalion snapped. “Tell me, old man…why do all these people live like this? Aren’t we currently in America? The great country known as the Land of the Free? It’s supposed to be a rich and prosperous land…but if that is true then why are there still ‘homeless’? Shouldn’t everyone here be living the ‘American Dream’?”

Fred blinked back at Dantalion in shock and then began to laugh brokenly. “It’s unusual for a kid your age to be worried about these things. Appearance is not always truth, kid. Yes, this is a beautiful, rich country filled with opportunity, but…it’s not like that for everyone. There’s a great divide in this country between the very rich and the very poor. There’s barely a middle class anymore. The rich keep getting richer and poor keep getting poorer.

“Yes, this perfect country still has things like unemployment…and homeless people and orphans, but the news never talks about that. The news likes to distract people from what’s really going on by controlling them with their fear. Directing their attention to other things like a random shooting perhaps. But the truth is the truth. They say we’re out of the recession, but if that were true then why did all of the people here lose their jobs and homes?” Fred waved his hand at the group of homeless people. “These were all normal people…until they lost everything…but no one cares. There is no one to help people like us…we’re just an eyesore to the people living here.”

“You’re forgetting about her. She comes here and brings us food whenever she can…” Hilda spoke up.

“Ah, yes…there is her.” Fred agreed with a solemn nod and a crooked smile.

Now Dantalion was curious. “Her? Who?”

“Joan…” Fred explained. And Dantalion’s heart skipped a beat. “Joan Aramis. She was the number one tennis champion in the world. Until the accident…poor thing…”

“Joan Aramis?” Dantalion echoed and then he put his face in his hand. What the hell was he thinking? Joan of Arc died 582 years ago. She was burned at the stake. Joan was a common name now. Dantalion finished eating and watched as the others finished their meal as well.

Someone brought out a strange looking trunk that was red and white. Hilda opened it to reveal that there were strange looking containers and glass bottles inside that appeared to have been kept cold.

Hilda took out a can of Coca-Cola and tossed it to Dantalion. He caught it out of reflex and discovered that the can was indeed cold. Hilda threw one to Fred, which he fumbled to catch with his one good hand.

Fred opened his can of coke and raised it up towards Dantalion. “Cheers! To new friends.”

Friend? No one has ever called me that before. Ah, except for Joan. Dantalion mimicked how Fred had opened the can and raised it. “Cheers.”

Fred brought the can to his lips and drank. “Ah.”

Dantalion brought the can to his lips and began to drink – his eyes widened at the strange fizzy sensation and the sweet but not overly sweet taste. He looked down at the can in shock. “That’s good…” He sounded surprised. The humans managed to invent such an interesting drink…perhaps there’s hope for them yet.

Hilda looked amused by Dantalion’s obvious appreciation of the can of soda and tittered. “You’re acting like you’ve never had a Coca-Cola before! Trying to stay true to that medieval costume of yours, young man?”

“He’s French.” Fred said, by way of explanation.

“Ah. That’s explains it then.” Hilda nodded knowingly to herself.

“Coca-Cola.” Dantalion repeated. Human beverages were truly amazing. “Fred. Is there anything else similar to this Coca-Cola, but different?”

“Uh…sure, we have different flavors of soda. Orange soda, Sprite, 7-Up, Dr. Pepper…” Fred explained.

“Bring them to me.” Dantalion ordered.

“Er…” Fred hesitated.

Dantalion met the old man’s eyes and repeated the command. “I said: bring all of the human beverages to me so I can sample them at once!”

“U-Understood, Dante.” The old man stammered as he rushed over to the cooler and selected one of each drink that was inside. With an armful of beverages Fred returned to Dantalion’s side. He set the drinks on the ground. “Here you go, kid.”

Dantalion was already reaching out to pick up a can of orange soda. He opened the can and took a sip. His eyes widened. “Delicious…” Dantalion opened a can of Dr. Pepper next and tried it. “Delicious.” He tried Pepsi, 7-Up, Gatorade, Red Bull, Beer, Rum, and Vodka…

Fred chuckled at the young man’s enthusiasm for the beverages. It took him back. He used to be just as enthusiastic about drinks…or rather in the art of mixing them.

“Hey kid. Try combining rum and coke in your mouth.” Fred suggested.

Dantalion raised an eyebrow at Fred. “Rum and…Coca-Cola? Seems an absurd combination…”

“Just try it, kid. Trust me.” Fred urged with a huff.

Dantalion shrugged and tilted his head back before pouring some rum and some coke into his mouth. He swished the two drinks together and swallowed. His eyes widened. That had been surprisingly good.

“That tasted good, old man.” Dantalion conceded.

Fred smiled knowingly. “That drink is called a Cuba Libre.”

“Cuba Libre.” Dantalion repeated. “Do you know of any other ‘drinks’ or ‘drink combinations’ that I should try, old man?”

Fred scratched his head and a flea jumped off. “Well, sadly our selection here is quite limited but…try a Vodka Red Bull. Just…use that bottle of Absolut Vodka over there and that can of Red Bull.” Fred directed.

Dantalion nodded and sampled this drink next. “How fascinating.” These human beverages are incredible…the combinations of the drinks create such interesting tastes. “Fred. I wish to learn more. I want to know more about…beverages. And how to make them. Teach me.” The demon gave Fred an expectant look.

Fred’s eyes widened in surprise and then his expression softened. “You don’t want to know about how to make ‘beverages’. You want to know how to become a bartender. You want to learn how to make cocktails, mixed drinks, highballs, lowballs, martinis, sours, tropical drinks, shooters, shots, hot drinks, wine cocktails and stick drinks.”

Dantalion nodded. “Yes, Fred. Teach me.”

Fred grinned a toothy smile showing the gaps in his teeth. “Then I have just the book for you! It will tell you all you need to know to be a proper bartender and all of the drinks a bartender should memorize.” Fred ran off and entered a pitched tent. He returned a moment later with a dusty book. He handed it to Dantalion reverently. “This book taught me everything I know…”

Dantalion took the book, the title read: Bartending Basics. He gave Fred a curious look. “Old man, you were a bartender?”

Fred puffed up his chest with pride.

“What is a bartender considered to be in this era?” Dantalion asked.

Fred faltered. “Er…an artist who mixes alcoholic drinks at a bar or cocktail lounge.”

“An artist of drinks…” Dantalion mused and a smile curled his lips. “I see. Why did you stop being a bartender?”

Fred held up his left arm that had a hook. “I had to go to the war and when I came back from Afghanistan I was like this…it’s pretty hard to mix drinks with only one arm and no one would hire me anyways because I would just scare the customers away. That’s how I ended up like…this.”

Dantalion sat down on the ground cross-legged and began to read. The demon read uninterrupted for five hours straight – all through the night and he was so into his book that none had the heart to disturb him. 

At about 5:00 AM in the morning Dantalion finished reading the bartending book and shut it. The sound of the book snapping shut awoke Fred, who had been nearby napping. “Already finish the book, kid?”

“Yes.”

“What did you think of it?”

“It was…fascinating. Several of these beverages I have never heard of nor have I tried before. I am…” Dantalion searched for the word to best explain what he was feeling. “Excited to get to try them all.”

Fred nodded. “You’ll have to read it a few more times to truly memorize it…and that’s only if you have an interest in becoming a bartender.”

“I have already memorized the book.” Dantalion declared.

Fred blinked. “Eh? You’re puling my leg, right kid?”

Dantalion smirked. “Try me, old man.”

“Hmph…okay…then tell me kid, how do you make a Mojito?”

“2 tsp sugar, 6-8 mint leaves, club soda, 1 lime halved, 2 ounces light rum, mint sprig for garnish. Place the sugar, the mint leaves and a little club soda into a highball glass. Stir well to release the sugar and mint flavor. Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass. Drop one half of the lime into the glass. Add the rum. Stir. Fill the glass with ice cubes. Add the rest of the club soda. Garnish with the mint sprig.”

Fred nearly fell over. “Okay that was an easy one. How about a Tequila Sunrise?”

“4 oz orange juice, 2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz grenadine, orange slice, maraschino cheery. Pour the tequila and the orange juice into a highball glass with ice cubes. Stir. Slowly pour the grenadine around the inside edge of the glass, it will sink and slowly rise to mix with the other ingredients naturally. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry.”

“Margarita?”

“1 1/2 oz tequila, 1/2 oz triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime juice, lime wedge for garnish. Salt or sugar to rim the glass. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well. If desired, salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass, pour contents with ice into the glass. Garnish with the lime wedge.”

Fred put a hand to his head. “Foreigners really are something else…I don’t think us Americans have brains that work quite like that. Okay, kid, so…what are you planning to do next?”

“I’m going to become the greatest bartender in this city…and take it over.” Dantalion deadpanned with a glint in his golden eyes.

Fred fell over.

TBC…Ch 2!

Dantalion: “How to prepare a Dark and Stormy. 2 oz Gosling’s Black Seal Rum. 3 oz Barrit’s ginger beer. Lime wedge for garnish if desired. Build the ingredients in a highball glass (or tall glass) filled with ice cubes, garnish with the lime wedge.”

Hello Readers, just wanted to let you know that I’ve decided to participate in this month’s NanoWrimo – National Novel Writing Month – the goal is to create a 50,000 word novel in one month. I’ve decided to give it a try, why not? I will be posting chapters of my new story for NanoWrimo here. Readers of Rockstar Ghost – please don’t worry about the sequel. I have completed Rockstar Ghost Resurrection and it just needs one more final edit/read through which I will have lots of time to do in December. And Kyoux also has to finish the cover art, which I’m sure is going to be lovely. The new cover art will feature Rosalie and her five cats!

The title of my new novel will be: “Wicked Bartender”

A basic synopsis but I’m still working on it:

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A powerful demon from hell is awoken from a sealed sleep by a lesser demon in preparation of the upcoming Apocalypse. Temporarily trapped in human form, and awaiting Satan’s orders he is charged with living as a human until given further instructions. So begins the demon’s trial of trying to find a job and a place to live in New York City during a recession with no real skills besides…killing. Meanwhile, a trusting young Irish-American man has just lost his father and inherited an Irish Pub in New York City that is failing. He needs to find a new bartender and a new waitress. The first to come to his pub, is a girl who was a Tennis Champion but since she was in a car accident is unable to continue playing the sport. She is hired first and then the demon comes asking about the bartending position however the girl knows him from one of her past lives and doesn’t trust this demon one bit!

I hope you will all enjoy this new story!

KuroKoneko Kamen