A Cafe with a Particular Accent (Private)

Hanna was sitting in a booth, gaping, open mouthed at her waitress. This particular waitress hand long blonde hair held up in a clip, a funny dragon looking medallion around her neck, wide brown eyes, and a smattering of freckles. This waitress had also been presumed dead for the last 6 months.

"What can I get you now, Sugar?"
Great, a southern accent.

"Ummm....." Hanna scanned her menu again. She had to keep this strange version of Salone occupied until she could alert Yamm, her father. "Can I get some waffles and hot chocolate, please?"
Covertly, the little dragoness looked at the waitress' name tag. Salone.

"Yes, you can." Salone offered up a smile to Hanna, exposing her dimple in her left cheek and writing down her order before walking away.

Running a hand over her face and through her hair, Hanna closed her eyes and reached out.

Yamm? You need to get over here now! I found mom! Although.... she's not in her right state of mind, I don't think. She has a southern accent. Please be careful.

That was the seriousness of the situation. Salone had a Southern Accent, Salone had HATED country music. Taylor Swift could take it and stuff it as far as Salone had been concerned. No, she wouldn't shake it off either. Anxiously, Hanna messed with her medical bracelet and waited.

It was around that time of the month... no not that one. The once where Artemis would track down probably one of her favorite humans, Hanna. Ever since Salone had gone M.I.A. she had tended to check up on Hanna about once a month, give or take a few days. She actually gotten pretty decent at hunting down the young human. The hard part was dodging Nika for any length of time so she could spend time with Hanna. After flying around for a bit Artemis landed, turned into a wolf and smelt the area for a bit. The smell was muffled since the entire area smelt of delicious meat and other treats but Artemis could still pin Hanna's scent. She walked in front of the windows until she found the booth where Hanna was sitting. Jumping up on the glass and scratching the window the wolf barked to get Hanna's attention. Her tail would wag once Hanna would look over. Artemis then would jump down and walk toward the entrance, shifting into a human right before she walked in. Artemis had her way over to Hanna's booth, her lack of shoes and decent clothes not phasing her as usual.

"Sup Pup." said Artemis happily and she landed in the plush seat across from Hanna. Artemis didn't know most human phrases but that one always amused her. Strangely enough there was another scent, one she hadn't smelt in a long time. It was Salone, it was a rather strong scent too but it couldn't be her. Artemis had been searching for her around 6 months now and hadn't been able to fine her. Most likely Hanna was wearing something of hers, but the scent was still really strong. But then again Salone did have those strange bottles of scents she liked to use on herself. They hurt Artemis' nose those, when Salone first uses them her eyes watered from the strong scent. She never understood why Salone would use it though. She did remember one time when Salone though it would be funny to spray her with it though. Her nose her for a long time after it. But it had been so long Artemis  couldn't remember the scents though since they where parts of memories she activly tried to block.

"Sadly I still have not found Sal- your alpha. But I did see Dragon Boy and my pups recently." said Artemis, trying to piece her words together correctly enough so they seemed normal. Hanna was one of the few people that knew what Artemis felt about her children. She was still unsure they where biologically hers but she had mentally adopted both of them.

"GHAAAAAA!!!!" The voice cried out, the echoing was something of a chorus as of late. The same scream of agony repeating over and over again. A sweet and blissful melody to ease the sting of words spoken long before. The sins of the fathers should never pass onto their sons, unfortunately that wasn't always how it worked. There were strange occasions that when the son and the father have both wronged you...you tend to just...lump them together and vent your frustrations. "I ALREADY SAID I DON'T KNOW!" The voice cried out, the pain leaving the voice trembling, the vibrating enough to pierce the air and give a dragon a headache.

 "AND I!!-already said I was the queen of England..." A voice bellowed from the darkness. A young man was strapped in a chair, strange runic markings on the leather bindings that kept him down to the steel folding chair. Bodies littered the floor, barely visible by the one light that hung from the ceiling above the poor victim. Blood strew across the walls, severed hands and puddles of the iron-rich substance filling the air. It was almost intoxicating for the young man who stepped out of the shadows and looked to the other young man who was bound to the chair. "But that doesn't make what I said true." He whispered as he let out a little sigh, his eyes narrowing as he pulled out a nice pen from the pocket in his black leather jacket.

  "I-I swear Yamm... I-I don'.... I don't know nothing man! You already killed my brother...I swear I didn't know my dad was gonna betray you!" The young man said, he was actually no older than Yamm, not much younger, and their physical vessels were close enough to the same age. But in all the protests, he was cut off by the Yamm as he interrupted the other male by musing aloud about his pen.

  "You know the sad part about this pen? This pen was given to me by a daughter. A daughter I don't even remember having because of this reincarnation. It's sort of sad...but you're father can still hold you. Your father can still be proud of you. But me? I can't hold my little girl... I don't even get the privilege to see her as my little girl or be proud of her...she's not even my daughter anymore...she's my friend. She doesn't even call me dad...she call's me "Matty" or "Yamm"...It's...depressing...I get to watch the bad guy enjoy his whorish children and the lies that they weave as they still manage to ruin and complicate my life... tens of thousands of years later." Matt said as he twirled the pen, still squatting down next to the chair. The whimpering of this guy was pathetic, it was infuriating that such a  pathetic thing had even made it this far in life. Spirit or not...

 "Y-Y-Yamm, I-P-p-please. Just let me go. I swear I didn't have anything to do with it!" the creature begged and pleaded form within it's mortal shell. Yamm just smiled and looked at the pen, almost enraptured.

Yamm? You need to get over here now! I found mom! Although.... she's not in her right state of mind, I don't think. She has a southern accent. Please be careful. A voice came to his mind. It was Hanna, he knew it immediately. She found Salone? Was this a trick? A ploy? It didn't matter... they found Salone. Matt sighed and shook his head before placing a hand on the other spirit's shoulder.

 "I couldn't do it... This pen...when I hold it it's like I'm holding my daughter. I as a person may not feel it but the dragon deep down. He feels it. Your father killed so many of his children. Killed the woman he loved before. Left him alone. It's a Hell. He doesn't have it in him...no...I don't have it in me to let him take the privilege to hold your child from another person." Matt said as his hand patted the spirit on the cheek, smiling at him with tears in his eyes a little bit. The Spirit looked at him, almost genuinely sorry for a moment. What happened next was so fast. Literally with inhuman speeds He pulled the back of the Spirit's head down as he essentially forced the spirit into his embrace, yet driving the pen into it's trachea. "Which is why I'll leave the body in once piece." Yamm said as he released the person moving his head back and smiling as he watched the life fade form the spirit's vessel, and ultimately destroying the spirit as well.

  Letting the limp body go he kicked over the chair and took off his black leather jacket before dropping it on the ground to rid any blood from him. He slipped the pen into his pocket and sighed as he closed his eyes to concentrate. It was true... Matt didn't like Salone. He couldn't stand her. But Yamm, despite his dislike for her, still loved her. He always would. Losing her in a disappearance like this was painful. It reminded him at just how miserable he was SUPPOSED to be. How miserable he deserved to be. He groaned and shook his head, looking to the corpse he would now leave in his wake.

 "Don't hate me... your suffering was temporary. Mine...mine lasts forevermore." He sighed as he forced himself to teleport, arrive in the restroom of the same facility as Hanna. He stepped out and immediately sought his daughter out... oh so easy to do with a whore Artemis paired up with her.

Salone didn’t notice as she’d brushed past a young man in a leather coat while vanishing into the back with a new order. Hanna however noticed instantly that Salone had walked past Yamm. Quietly she prayed for him not to do anything dumb while she turned her attention to her scantily dressed ‘aunt’.

“Artemis,” Hanna hissed. Of all times to show up, Artemis had picked now. Last time she had eaten Hanna’s homework. She knew this was going to happen soon, so this time she was prepared. Opening her backpack she fished out an oversized sweatshirt and handed it to Artemis. “Put this on and don’t do anything stupid…” under her breath she added, “Salone’s here. But she’s not really Salone… Look.”

Salone was out again, taking orders from tables and smiling. This was a different version of Salone than Hanna was accustomed to. One without a weapon, offering a white smile, and kind words. Unlike her mother who would skewer a person if they had given her reason to doubt their intentions. Was this the Salone before Yamm? At the thought of her father, Hanna looked around. Spotting him, Hanna stood, giving Artemis a look that clearly stated she better stay put otherwise she’d be on fire… literally.
After succeeding in drawing Mathew over to the table, Hanna jerked her head in Salone’s direction.

“She has the medallion and everything!” Hanna’s voice was still low. “I am willing to bet she still has those time collector marks on her back too.”

That was the moment she realized she was trembling all over, terrified at what could happen. “What are we going to do? She didn’t even recognize me…”

Hanna scooted over on her bench to make room for Yamm, hands still shaking as she hid them under the table.

"She's what?" said Artemis confused.  Usually Artemis would be hurt by the fact Hanna wasn't happy to see her, usually she was but the mention of Salone knocked that thought from her mind. Artemis  struggled with the sweatshirt. Damn human clothing made no sense with all the holes and such. After she got the sweatshirt on mostly right, it was just on backwards.  Hanna pointed out Salone and Artemis nearly jumped out of her seat if it wasn't for a vice like grip from Hanna keeping her in place. She didn't noticed anything wrong with her at first... then Salone talked.

"W-What's wrong with her. She sounds like those noises she hates and she is being umm... nice? Yeah nice. She is being nice to people out of her pack." said Artemis. Artemis attention was mostly focused on Salone right up until Yamm walked up and sat down next Hanna, then it slipped.

"Well I can jump on her and then we can- oh hello there Dragon Boy." said Artemis, finish her sentence with a sly smile and turning her attention to Yamm.

Matt made his way to the table and sat down. He didn't do anything or say anything as he passed Salone. The dragon inside him was going off like a jack rustle terrier. Oh hey, Salone! SALONE! Mine, Mine! Matt where ya goin' man that's Salone right there! She's alive! Hey look I'm mad at her too but that's just cold. EEEEHHYAH! Stupid legs won't do what I want! Salone! Help me! Vessel gone rogue! Vessel gone rogue! the mental voice raged as Matt sat down next to Hanna and took the fork before driving it into his leg. He didn't let any pain show on his face...even though it hurt badly. Shut.The Hell.Up. He thought to himself, silencing the dragon in his soul. Artemis gave him a sly smirk or smile or whatever that thing was on her face. Matt pulled off his sunglasses anf his unnaturally blue eyes fixated on Artemis.

   "Hanna, cover your ears for a moment." Yamm instructed. He hated to do this, exercising the Dragon King's authority to force his daughter to not listen to him, but it was best for her to not hear this.

Spoiler:

Okay, so Matt wasn't in the mood for Artemis antics. Then again she did sort of ruin his life not all that long ago. As far as Matt was concerned he wanted Artemis to die, but Yamm kept her around because she was a friend. A lip-whore for sure. A friend none the less, however.

   Matt then looked to Hanna and nodded for her to lower her hands.

"Well, that's no surprise. That's definitely my amulet...dangit. Just...we need to find a way to get close to her." Matt said to Hanna as he ran his hand through his hair, the tension in the air between him and Artemis was bothering him more so than Salone not remembering him at this particular second in time.

Hanna held back a bark of laughter at Artemis’ suggestion. One of the major clashing points of both Matthew and Artemis was Artemis liked to tackle things head on and Matty liked to instigate things with more finesse. However, the bark of laughter was cut short at the flirtatious look Artemis gave Yamm.

“Ew,” was all Hanna had to say before turning her attention back to her mother and covering her ears. She didn’t want to hear it and apparently the fathering dragon didn’t want her to either. So Hanna watched Salone. This Salone was extraordinarily beautiful, not that her mother hadn’t been. But this Salone had a magnetism that seemed to draw eyes.

“I have an idea,” Hanna stated, reaching over and passing him a napkin to staunch what little bleeding there would be from fork impalement. Whatever that idea was she didn’t say because at that moment her food showed up.

“Here yah go,” Salone plopped the food down in front of Hanna before looking at Matthew and the Artemis with the sweatshirt on backwards. Salone’s lips twitched for a fraction of a second with suppressed laughter before asking, southern accent twanging, “Do you two want anything?”

Hanna intercepted before Artemis could open her mouth, “Artemis will have a hamburger and a water. Matthew will have chicken strips and water.”

The waitress nodded, writing it down on her notepad before sashaying away. “The chicken strips are amazing, practically falling apart in your mouth.” Hanna offered up, waiting for Salone to be out of earshot. Cutting into her waffles, Hanna offered up her idea. Yamm could try to get Salone away from the café via flirtatiousness and then knock her out using his water voodoo. “Or if you don’t feel up to it, Artemis could get her away from here and knock her out with something very inconspicuous like…. Ohhhh I dunno…. A light post?”

     Hanna’s sarcastic humor as showing up again, curtesy of the people she had lived with. She knew for a fact, Yamm was a massive flirt and almost couldn’t resist a chance to show off for a female he found attractive… Matty on the other hand might not go for it. While Matthew mulled this all over, Hanna turned to Artemis and helped her fix her sweatshirt.
“Do you have any ideas, Artemis?”

Artemis occasionally had good ideas…. Hopefully hers didn’t involve kidnapping but Hanna was doubtful.

"I would like to see you try. I like a bit of fight in my potential mates." said Artemis, leaning in towards Yamm. She would of continued from that point on if Salone didn't walk back and place food in front of Hanna. Salone asked if she or Yamm wanted anything, Artemis opened her mouth to answer but Hanna spoke up before hand saying what both of them would want. After jolting down the order She walked off again. Artemis relaxed in her booth, her eyes following Salone like a hawk.

"If you want a fat dragon to catch your prey then fine. But if want to get her, leave it to the hunter. I am still the stronger shape shifter." said Artemis, her eyes trained on Salone still, almost to the point where it could be considered creepy. And that strongest shape shifter was still up in the air since if Artemis remember correctly that fight never really happened after Penny broke the two up before the fight even begun.

"The key to catching your prey is watching and waiting. You strike at the right time, not a second before or after." said Artemis, it was strange that Artemis used the word waiting in her sentence. Honestly she wouldn't be surprised if Hanna thought Artemis didn't even know what the word meant. But the fact Artemis was completely serious and focused on something could potentially be better. Once Hanna fixed her sweatshirt Artemis seemed to snap out of her focus.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't hurt her... too much. Salone would be the type of prey to struggle. I can feel it, a fight would be unavoidable." said Artemis to Hanna in a quick moment of kindness.

"No matter what we do this won't be easy, there are to many people around. But could change if a grizzly bear suddenly appeared out of no where."

"Actually I agree, let her turn into a bear and scare everyone off." Matt said. Honestly this had nothing to do with getting Salone back anymore. He could sweep in, play the hero, kill the "grizzly bear" and save the girl. Then he could deal with talking to Salone and getting her back on the winning team. That was going to be tough for sure. Matt actually began to think for a moment about what would happen if he did just listen to the dragon. That's the spirit. Hey you don't know. Sure, she's a little older but how is it gonna be when she's 90 and you're still taking care of her...stuck at 18. Love is stupid kid. You know what else love is? Blind. She's a little older than you now, sure...but look at it like this. This is virtually pedophilia for you. What? No. How is THAT supposed to make me feel better? You're technically over 30,000 years old. The inner Dragon said to him, trying to coax his favor to talking with Salone. I'm not saying you'll love her at first sight. I'm not saying you'll always like her. Hey, I love her more than my next breath and there are times I don't like her. But I'm asking you to give love a chance man! Be a Hero! Lemmie have a chance at love! Salone asked for orders but Matt just smiled shyly and then gratefully sighed when he was taken care of by Hanna.

  You are the only thing I know that can make my heart open up and feel sorry for you and then turn it into a joke! Matt mentally chided the dragon, warranting nothing more than a snigger followed by It's a gift. Totally could have gotten a scholarship for it...if Artemis hadn't ya know...gotten you kicked outta school. Oh great, like he needed reminded. He looked to Artemis and smiled. "Alright Artemis... show me why you're a better shape shifter than Shael. You want the chance to show me. Show me." He said. Oh he was going to enjoy this.

After watching Matthew have his inner battleHanna turned to Artemis who in turn was eyeing Salone.
“Go for it,” Hanna stated and sat back, waiting for Artemis to work her distructo monkey magic.

Artemis honestly looked a bit shocked that everyone agreed on her idea. Usually her ideas where shot down almost instantly shot down. Either way a smile crawled on her face. She took off the sweat shirt Hanna gave her, Artemis imagined she would want that in one piece.

"Just let me work my magic. And follow my lead." said Artemis, she stood up and began to walk towards the back of the restaurant. Since her clothing, or lacking of clothing was apparent now some heads did turn. Artemis ignored them though, she had a plan. Although she decided something while walking, she wouldn't turn into a bear, no she would turn into something even more natural. And hopefully something that would jog Salone's memory. Artemis began to walk into the back of the store and one of the waitresses, who was looking before realized what Artemis was doing and went to stop her.

"Excuse me miss you can't go back there, we can refuse service if you don't pu-" said The waitress. The moment the waitress' hand touch her shoulder, Artemis turned around a shifted. Next thing anyone knew a large copper-colored wolf pinned the waitress down, growling and snarling at her. It was right then when some people got up in ran, other to scared to move. It would need they needed some... convincing. Jumping off the waitress, who immediately scrambled to the door, Artemis chased everyone else out from the diner, all except Hanna, Yamm and Salone... and most of Salone's co-workers who where hiding behind the counter. Artemis tend tried to scare Hanna and Yamm out the door, mostly so it seemed realistic and Artemis figured they would understand. After that would be done she would focus on Salone.

Time to play along then. Yamm grabbed Hanna by the wrist, or would try to at any rate, and rush her out of there as best as he possibly could. Then he'd turn and make his way back towards Salone as Artemis crept closer. Matthew stepped between Salone and the bear-wait. No it's a wolf now. Dumb ***** couldn't even follow her own dang plan. He charged Artemis, with all the chaos she just caused he would be able to take virtually whatever she could throw at him.

 "You come in here and act like you have me caged in here with you." He whispered to the wolf as he used his chaos-enhanced strength to move forward a little bit, trying his best to push Artemis back. The more chaotic things got the stronger he would become. "But it's YOU that's caged in her with me." He chuckled as his eyes went from normal pupils to lizard styled slits, the mark of a predator. His eyes were now their most entrancing blue. "And now we're in MY territory." He said, the aggression in his voice wasn't Matt, Artemis would know that. This voice would sound to familiar. No one else would know the difference, but to Artemis it would mean a world of difference. as he tried to pivot on his left foot, aiming to literally turn both Artemis momentum and his force against her, likely throwing her out of the window and onto the side walk. If not this were just going to flat out hurt most likely. Yamm wasn't expecting this to be easy...this was gonna hurt both of them, that was certain.

  The battle began, but the question was if Artemis were really ready to fight, or if Matt/Yamm were just playing along... or if Salone were still the objective.

Everything happened so quickly, one minute Hanna was in her seat, munching waffles. The next Yamm was dragging her out of her chair and halfway around the Café.

“I was eating that-“ Hanna mumbled, rubbing her wrist. The copper colored wolf was gorgeous, despite the long canines. Then the scene shifted, in the corner of her eye Hanna could see Salone moving to get all the employees out the back. Then, she did something Hanna was not expecting. From under the main counter, she pulled a double barrel shot gun. Honestly, Hanna wasn’t surprised, this was hillbilly country.  It was loaded and the noise of a bullet sliding into a chamber sent a shudder down Hanna’s spine. Then Salone began to slink forward, gun pointed at Artemis.

A thought struck Hanna and she hurried forward to stand behind Yamm, who seemed to be itching for an actual fight. “Yamm, what was Salone’s job when you first met her?... A HUNTER! Look! She has every intention of blowing Artemis’ brains out!” Hanna was panicked, she had forgot this. “Use your head! You can pound Artemis later! Salone’s going to hate herself if she ever regains her memories and finds out she killed a friend!”

Salone was fast, faster than Hanna could recall. She had turned her attention to Yamm just for a few seconds and now Salone had Artemis staring down the barrel of a gun! Hanna squeaked, momentarily debating on going Dragon mode and flying out of here with Artemis before-.

“Enough,” Salone’s quite yet commanding voice rang through the chilly morning air. “Down wolf, I know you can understand me perfectly.”

The shot gun did not quiver and Salone’s finger was on the trigger.
Hanna swore under her breath, she was right. Salone had gone back into Hunter mode and she had noticed everything. Next to Penny, Salone had seemed of average intelligence. But alone, she could blast any mere mortal out of the water.

“Now no need for that language there missy, makes yah sound unintelligent.” Salone stated and then still quieter asked, “Why were y’all tryin to get my attention?”  

Matt rammed into Artemis, pushing her back. Artemis growled at him and escaped his grasp. Barking at him a couple times as if to say 'what are you doing this wasn't part of the plan. And then his voice changed. Oh this how it was going to be. Yamm wanted play? Fine, Artemis would give him what he wanted. And then Artemis got thrown out of a window. Wait? Was Yamm being serious in this fight? No fair! Artemis was still playing! She stood back up and flinched as she felt some glass was dug into her front left leg. Artemis looked up and looked down a barrel of one of those weird Boom-sticks. Artemis had no idea what they where exactly but they made loud noises and put holes into things. Salone demanded that she stop and she knew Artemis could understand her. Artemis just barked and wagged her tail, any sense of hostility disappearing from her. Dispute her front left leg (or arm if she was in human form) bleeding Artemis seemed generally happy they had Salone alone. Artemis would then do something which could potentially be considered on the dumbest things she had ever done, and there where a lot of stupid things she had done. She attempted to jump on Salone. Not only that but she would lick her across the cheek, shifting back into her human form halfway through.

"Salone! I missed you! We've been looking for you everywhere! I have looked under so many rock!" Artemis would say.

"If it had been anyone else..." Yamm scowled before stepping forward. Salone was a hunter, but back then her reflexes were likely still less than his. True, both he and Salone had grown, but he didn't anticipate much to get past him. With lighting fast reflexes and speed he'd latch out, grab the barrel of the shotgun, squeeze and bend the barrel up, obstructing any form of use from the weapon.

  "Trust me Salone, that's the last person you want to shoot. Because one day you'll realize what you've done and you will NEVER forgive yourself." He said, Matt and Yamm both settled into sync now as he looked to Artemis. Artemis was then suddenly trying to jump on Salone like a dopey, retarded puppy. They're better off without us. Just let them go. Matt said, contemplating the fact that Salone was gone, and Artemis ruined him. Honestly he was literally the pull of a trigger away from suicide...then he pulled that trigger...then remembered he was a dragon and the bullet wouldn't do much. But Artemis and Salone were pretty much the original duo there. Nothing bad happened until the Primordial of Chaos appeared. They would have found a way to make her better...sick or not. But why? But the answer was simple. Because Salone was a kind, gentle person who protected the weak. She was a hero. What was he? A vengeful soul who wanted nothing more than revenge. He just so happened to fallen love all over again. Look what that got him. He caused pain and bad things to the ones he loved most.

  Because She's the hero. We're the Villain. Matt thought as he sighed audibly. Alone would likely have much to say, but Matthew was far too crestfallen to even care if she were mad...or if she tried to hurt him even. All he knew was that not only did he want revenge on Ba'al, but he wanted revenge on Artemis. Both forms of Revenge he would be denied. One because of his own foolishness to trust someone. The other...because it was sparing someone he loved even more torture.

  "Artemis, give her some air...and some personal space. She doesn't even remember you ya dumb-as-trick mark." Matt said, remembering Salones dislike of profanity in the dead middle of it and quickly altering his word with some skill.