Demons and Diners

Parties and Preparations

My sleep that night is fitful, brimming with the same nightmares that haunted my time before coming here: I saw the goons who'd 'teach me a lesson', but on top of the usual bone-crunching pain and torture, they'd transform in front of my eyes into all forms of grotesque beasts and creatures. It must've been my imagination feeding on fear, because the nightmare-beings looked far more frightening than any of the demons I'd seen in the diner the day before.

I'm woken from a half-sleep by a text from Chris, and I'm grateful for the excuse to keep my eyes open.

Chris: Hey dude! PJ said you probably wouldn't have heard, there's a party tonight. You'd better be there! 8pm in the ballroom

Chris: Don't forget, though, you're on today from 2-7pm

I shake my head, then let it drop back to my pillow. I do not do parties, unless they're explicitly mandated by the boss. And usually for some kind of job, never for fun. As if I could ever consider being around tons of drunk people and having my eardrums assaulted by uncomfortably loud music for hours on end 'fun'...

Dan: Mandatory?

I'm hoping it's not considered rude to ask - technically, he's my superior, but...I really would rather do anything else...

Chris: Obviously!!! You HAVE to go. Us humans gotta stick together, right?

I let out a groan, sending a quick confirmation that I'd be there. Maybe I can just make an appearance and leave. I also file away the information about Chris - okay, so he's human, too. A memory pops up: the day PJ had dragged me to Phil's office, how he mentioned Chris had fainted at the sight of the demons. Makes sense, I suppose. I pull aside the blanket, scooting to sit at the edge of my bed, and formulate a plan. Goal for today, figure out as many people as I can - who's human, who's demon.

Though I'm not entirely sure why it's important to know that, I feel as though I'll be more comfortable just knowing. Besides, if my life has taught me anything, it's that information is the most valuable thing I can possess.

After a scalding shower - god bless hot water - I head toward the kitchen to grab some breakfast. As the door to the living quarters closes behind me, I'm assaulted by the most wonderful smells. Or, rather, they're quite ordinary breakfast smells, but I'm apparently starving.

An abundance of sizzling drowns out all other sounds as I pass through the kitchen doorway, and I immediately notice Louise waving me over.

"Here hon, take this - customer changed his order after we'd already made it, and you're absolutely famished!" She shoves a plate into my hands, which is heaped with eggs, potatoes, and some sausage, then waves a hand at me in dismissal. I shuffle out of the way, careful to pass around the other cooks without disturbing their rhythm, and manage to make it to a table in the staff kitchen without anything falling off the plate. Did Louise just...know I was hungry? I take another mental note, grabbing some silverware and tucking into the delicious food.

Stuffed to the brim, I return to the kitchen, seeking out the blonde head. A man - nope, that's a demon, I amend, noticing the cat eyes as they glance over at me - catches me standing, evidently confused, and calls out over the din of the kitchen.

"She went to get some things set up for tonight, did ya need something?" I shake my head, though I'd been hoping to ask her how she knew I was so hungry. Assuming that's not an offensive question. I can find her later. Retreating into the relative quiet of the hallway, I take a moment to decide on my next course of action. I could just explore for awhile, I mean, it's not like I know anyone else to-