Black Rose

Chapter 1: Haven and the Black Rose

New York city, the city that never sleeps; people walking down the streets, clubs and bars opening for the night and even shops staying open. One of these shops is the Haven Cafe. Haven is a popular to the New Yorkers. With people always coming in and out of the cafe from day until night, it always raise the curiosity of the tourists. In the morning, their food and drinks always give the people a positive atmosphere, but whenever night creeps the city, people always come for the entertainment.

Haven always closes for an hour or two just to change the atmosphere for the night. This gives Haven's entertainers time to settle their equipment. This entertainers is a band call Black Rose; a group of six friends playing together, sharing the same dream, to spread their music.

Just inside the cafe, you could see the band scattered all over. Malevolo or Mally, as everyone calls him, is strumming his guitar while sitting at the amplifier. His sister Dolce or Doll is tuning her bass with Enrico or Henry, Lucia or Lucy is by the counter talking to Luna, the owner of Haven. Gino, the keyboardist, is fixing the lights and sounds for tonight's performance while throwing glares at the Band's rhythem guitarist, Bello or Bel for short. He is sitting at a table just drinking and watching everyone work.

"You better hurry with the lights, we're opening soon." Bel said to Gino as he sips his glass of alcohol.

"Then fucking help me you bastard." snaps Gino as he continous his work.

Bel shrugs his shoulders "Don't want to," he smirks making Gino grit his teeth with anger, "because I'm a prince." Drawling out his words.

Gino snaps and pounces on Bel yelling, "Prince my ass!" Bel jumps out of Gino's reach at the last second, taunting with a big grin on his face.

On the sidelines, Mally is adding oil to the fire by throwing insults to Gino. Just beside him is both Doll and Henry watching them passively, not even thinking on stopping the fight. At the corner is Lucy and Luna, both ignoring the fighting boys and just continuing their conversation while drinking time to time.

"So what do you think Lucy?" Luna leans closer to Lucy, anticipating her answer.

Lucy puts down her cup letting out a weary sigh. She glares at Luna and said at a low tone, "I'll speak with the band."

Ignoring the glare, Luna smiles brightly and tried to hug Lucy over the counter, but she was stopped by Gino smashing between them.

Fortunately, the counter didn't break from the impact; unfortunately, both women were drenched by their beverages. Silence befall the cafe.

"Damn it, that fucking hurt." curses Gino.

He stands up while rubbing his aching head, oblivious to the pain he will be feeling later. He looks at Bel, Mally, Henry and Doll just to see them pale and a look of horror on their faces. Confused, Gino said "What the hell are you guys looking at?"

They said nothing but merely points behind him. Gino looks back just to become pale himself. Behind him is both Lucy and Luna, dripping wet and angry. Sudenly both smiles at the group making them paler.

"Hey guys, let's play a game!" said Lucy in a sweet voice.

The group starts sweating when they see Lucy smiling innocently and Luna cracking her knuckles. The five bandmates starts to back away from the two frightening women; one word only comes up to their mind.

'Shit.'

HAVEN. NIGHT - 8:55 PM.

The Haven is once again blustering with people; individual people in the corner drinking, teenagers just hanging around and laughing together, couples showing their affection with one another, groups of people either drinking or just talking, waiters going back and forth the kitchen either with dirty dishes or perfectly cooked meals. Everyone is scattered in the building but leaving the stage unoccupied.