TAXI driver (HIATUS)

02

By the time he'd dropped the woman off on Fairlop Road, Teddy was sweating in buckets. So far, he hadn't had the pleasure of encountering a ghost, but he knew that wouldn't last.

The woman paid him her fare and ruffled his blonde mop, "I knew you were a good lad."

Teddy gave her a quick smile and started the engine as soon as she closed the door.

He didn't want to stay in this bloody town for too long. He could feel the air around his cab get heavy and dark. Something was up and Teddy didn't want to wait to find out what.

Hitting the accelerator, he sped down the quiet road acknowledging the green stoplights with welcoming nods.

Leytonstone was another one of London's North-East areas riddled with gang crime and suspicious activity. If Teddy had heard correctly, there were several mobs sprawled across the town, each with their own signature graffiti marks claiming certain areas as theirs. Teddy's sight caught on a naked purple lady sprawled along the side of a corner shop and gave her a wink.

As he turned left, almost out of town, he smelt something sweet in his car. Sweet and heady... Apricots?

The brakes SKREEEEEECHED as he slammed down on them. His spine tickled with the familiar sensation of something Evil. In his cab.

And it wasn't his infamous ghost cats, thank Lucifer.

Gripping the steering wheel in one hand, he turned to see two figures reclined on his leather seats. Their postures were stiff and tight and they both had enormous woollen scarves wrapped around their necks.

"Get out," Teddy grunted. He wasn't in the mood for dealing with Them today.

The tall man, who had to crane his neck to avoid it colliding with the roof frowned and turned towards the woman sitting beside him, "Does he not know who we are?"

"It doesn't look like it," The woman's hair shone a silky black and rippled down her shoulders like a reptile's dark scales.

"I can't imagine having to introduce myself."

The woman snorted, "Dante when have you ever had to introduce yourself?"

Dante appeared to think for a moment, "I don't suppose ever."

Teddy kept a straight face as his mind whirled, "Who do you think yo--"

And then it clicked. There was only one Italian monster whose name was Dante which meant that the woman beside him must be Lolamerra, his younger sister. Children of Lord and Lady Dragon, heirs to the Dragos fortune and nobility amongst the supernatural. Teddy felt a chill slither down his spine. He considered bowing for a moment.

There were many rumours about Dante. His infamous looks were said to outshine the beauty of the Grey Sisters combined. His dragon was a powerful beast, able to take down four dozen men faster than you could say Queen 'Lizziebeth. Looking at him, Teddy felt the air turn hot and tense.

"Dante Dragos," Teddy said guardedly.

Dante nudged his sister with glee, "Look! He does know me."

"Know of you," Lolamerra corrected, "Who knows what lies he's been fed about us."

"Lies about you more like. The people only sing of my many talents."

"You must be mistaking yourself for someone else."

"You're only envious."

"Dante, seriously, look at yourself."

"I see nothing but art."