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Raven

    Arlene watched in open-mouthed horror, as her cupcakes were devoured and consummated in front of her very eyes. She had brought a dozen of her latest batch- chocolate blueberries, and she didn’t even have the chance to taste them!

    The red-eyed demon was sitting below the oak tree, one knee up and head bent down to his task. Arlene sat about 5 feet away, afraid in case the demon was going to turn on her next. But now as she looked on at the creature, she was puzzled. She wondered if he was a vampire at all! Vampires don’t eat cupcakes, do they?

    She had spent the whole day worrying about his threat. She couldn’t let him come back to the house that’s for sure. She had Becky and her mom to worry about. If the vampire decided to drink her blood, what would stop him from attacking Becky, she had thought. She couldn’t risk it. She had to go.

    She had spent that evening baking, more solemn then usual. And later that night after her mom and Becky went up to bed, she creeped back down the stairs, stuffed her cupcakes (blue frosted icing!) into her miniature gunnysack, and exited silently through the back sliding door. The wind was cold and she pulled her cardigan tighter around her. She leaped the fence behind the house. Sneaking out was not a problem. She had done it a million times. Usually with great exuberance at the prospect of spray painting. But tonight the cold chilled her to the bones. Her heart was pumping and she found her feet dragging. Whatever her body’s attempt at perspiration evaporated, turned cold by either her fear or the wind. What could that thing possibly want with her cupcakes! 

    Hedgeshore was alive even at this hour. Hedgeshore was an interesting town, steeped with history. A great blend of modernization and the past. Castles and citadels, you name it. It’s all here, among the factories and high rise buildings. A couple of men wearing kilts can be seen laughing in front of a bar, probably winding down after spending the day at the Celtic Festival. Such sights were not uncommon. Even the trees and lamp posts along the road were covered with their Celtic themed ornaments. She loved the town, a mix of old and new. Hedgeshore received a lot of visitors in the last few years. A favourite tourist spot for couples who are looking for a quick romantic getaway. With some parts of the town being designated for parks with trees hundreds of years old, there is a little bit of everything in Hedgeshore. She was unfortunately, headed to one of those parks. Grim faced, wondering what forlorn fate was in store for her next.

    She was early. She wondered what possesed her to run to the park a week ago. It was dark. Tonight seemed much more malicious than usual. She made her way to the oak tree and sat down and waited. It was quiet. Finally after a few minutes she considered to dump her sack and flee.

    “Stay!” a voice from the tree called out. She froze.

    With a blink of an eye he was next to her, her bag in his hands. She scrambled backwards and watched in terror.

***

    He devoured everything. The whole bag of them. He was licking his fingers when he noticed the girl was looking at him. The fear seems to have left her. She had a more puzzled expression on her face.

    “Raven,” he said.

    “What?” 

    “Ravenagh Morcae. You can call me Raven.”

    He watched as her face turned from puzzled to anger. He was trying hard to suppress a chuckle. Is she thinking of attacking me?

    “You’re not a vampire are you?!” she exclaimed.

    “Never said I was.” Aww, the little thing is angry, he thought as he leaned back against the tree. Feeling contented with his latest set of morsels.

    Arlene stood up and balled her fist, summoned the courage to take a few steps closer. She didn’t know if she should hit this thing with the glowing eyes or not. Finally, standing next to him, she rested a hand on her hips. 

    “Well, what are you?” she asked.

    “What do you call these things?” he said, motioning to the now empty bag.

    “Cupcakes! Have you never eaten one? What are you then?” she pressed, still feeling unnerved for being tricked by this creature. She had spent the whole day in fear for God’s sakes!

    He considered briefly to take this insolent she-human down, …but she does make good cupcakes, and decided against it.

    “You call us elves,” he said.

    Arlene was taken aback. She wouldn’t have believed it herself but the events over the past few days have been short of normal. She quickly glanced down to see if the tell-tale ears were true. It was! Just that his hair did a good job covering most of it.

    “Elves? There are no such thing! If you’re not a vampire, then why are your eyes red?” she continued, still trying to find a reason to disprove his claims. She was too old to believe in fairy tales.

    “No elves and yet you call me a vampire?” he said. “I’m a dark elf. I am nocturnal.” With that he casually stood up, patting his trousers of the earth. His daggers still potruding menacingly on the back of his waist. She was immediately reminded of his height and strength and all her bravado started to fizzle out. He turned to face her and she realized their proximity. She was stuck with him in front and the gargantuan oak right behind her. His pale face framed with dark wild hair, his eyes looked down at hers. In the moonlight his red eyes glowed like mellowed embers. His handsome yet delicate features like ivory against the night. She was trying very hard to keep herself from flustering.

    “So, where are the… day elves?” she said haughtily, trying to put up a brave front. Hoping to distract him by keeping him on the topic.

    “Hah! “ he scoffed and took a step backwards. “Our silver haired brethren? You can never find them. They don’t live near human cities.” 

    “And the dark elves do?”

    “No, we don’t either. But I am posted here on their orders.” 

    “Orders?”

    “Yes. We dark elves are much fewer in numbers. We owe it to the Silvers our allegiance.”

    “But why you? And why here?”

    “To hunt. I am a night hunter.”

    “What are you hunting?” 

    At this point Arlene was slowly inching herself away from the tree. She tried to act as casual as possible as she sidestepped out of her restricted spot. To her annoyance Raven stepped right back in front of her and propped his left hand against the tree, effectively blocking her path. Her heart started to palpitate, and she prayed he couldn’t hear it. He leaned closer to her, his face right above her head. His neck was so close that she could smell his scent. Like earth and autumn leaves. Arlene couldn’t move, she felt like she was paralysed to the ground.

    He brushed the top of her head.

    “There was a spider on your hair”. 

     Arlene was blushing red by now. She must’ve looked like a beetroot. He grinned.

    “Come back tomorrow. Bring some more of those cupcakes,” with that he stepped aside to let her pass. 

    Arlene just managed a nod, she felt like she was in a daze. She decided not to press her question and walked away from him, briskly. It was really late and she had no idea of what to make of the encounter. A dark elf hunter? She turned her head to see if he was still there but as usual he was gone.