Conversations with Cerina

"I don't have to answer any of your questions." Cerina says defiantly.

"True. You are a free willed being, you make your own decisions. And this place is neutral territory. Under normal circumstances I'd never question my patrons let alone you. But you tried to disturb the balance. Hell, your actions brought two half-breeds directly in hostile contact with one another. And when that happens in my house, it becomes my business. You saw how Gabriel talked to me. Even he is afraid of me in my house. You don't even have a fraction of the power he possesses. If you think I can't extract an answer out of a weak, fallen demoness like yourself, you are gravely mistaken."

There's a silence in the room after his implicit threat. Cerina seems to be gauging the depth of the situation. She decides to err on the side of caution. No good making enemies when you're so weak.

"Fine." she gives in. "Mammon said he'd return me back to who I was if I could make Nicholas kill me. "

"But wouldn't you have died if I had decided to stab you?" you ask.

"No. It was a trick knife. It'd disappear the moment it made full contact with my body. I was safe at all times. The plan was to make you take the leap so that your soul would be corrupted. From there on, it would've been pretty easy for Mammon to control you." she says. "I tried my best to have you kill me by trying to influence your thoughts but it didn't work." Suddenly she spots the dagger still in your right hand. Your fist had become extremely pale from holding it too tight. "What in heavens?!" she exclaims.

You look at Cerina and follow her eyes down to your right hand. It was the same dagger from before. You immediately let go of the dagger. A warm sensation spreads through your fingers as the blood flow resumes.

"Shit!"

Papa Midnite stands up and walks around the table to the both of you. He grimly stares at the dagger and picks it up. "This happens to be a family heirloom. My family heirloom."

Both you and Cerina are shocked by the revelation. He continues "He must've stolen it from the Room Of Sor. It's a room in the basement of this restaurant and stores a lot of historical and mythical weapons and other arcane knowledge. Kinda like a library with only limited access. How he got entry is something I'm gonna have to look into."

He then looks at Cerina and says "Had Nicholas actually gone through, you would've been dead."

"This....can't be..." she says with disbelief. "He promised..."

"Only the promises of full fledged beings are binding. Half-breeds are not bogged down by such trivialities. You should know. You were a full demon yourself." Midnite says.

It slowly starts coming back to her. She was already forgetting her life as a demoness. Mammon knew about this and took advantage of her gullibility.

"I know you're confused, demon, but it happens to all who fall. They start losing a lot of the memories of their previous lives and become more like humans. I call it The Fallen Amnesia Syndrome." Midnite says with a chuckle.

Cerina has a pained as well as angry look on her face. "I can't believe he took advantage of me....I was....so stupid! What kind of life is this?" Tears well up in her eyes and she wipes them off. Betrayal. She had seen betrayal before but never really experienced it before today.

Papa Midnite looks at her in pity. "Human life is tough and always has been. Welcome to our world." he says.

"I don't wanna be here anymore. I'm leaving." she says abruptly and leaves the office.

Both you and Papa Midnite are left alone in the room. "Well, what are you waiting for boy? Go after her and make sure she doesn't cause any more trouble." He says with a look of worry. These were very strange circumstances.

"Oh yeah" you say quickly and run out before he stops you again.

"Wait up kid! Here, take this." he hands you a scroll and says. " Just open it when you reach your house. It's a protective charm that prevents anyone, angel or demon or anything in between, from coming inside your house without your permission. Run now, GO!"

You take the scroll "Thanks old man!" and run back outside.

"I fear for his soul. I hope everything works out for him." he says to himself.

*************************************************************************************************Hey Smithjohnsonian here. Listen up, I know the story seems to be prolonging a bit. Good things come to those who wait. Sexual content will be coming soon. If you have any feedback or constructive criticism or if you have any ideas about how the story should proceed further, just let me know in the comments. Thanks :)