It's My Problem Too

        The sweat and body odor of truckers and potheads broke through the usual smell of grilling meat and bacon grease. Raquel strolled across the checkerboard floor, her eyes glossing over translucent figures and patrons shifting uncomfortably in human skin. She listened for the quiet thrum of human hearts, licking her lips and thinking about which one she would have for dinner tonight. Her gaze lingered on a handsome, Filipina trucker- her broad shoulders and confident smirk promising a meal that would satisfy more than just her appetite. Just when her decision was finally made, she caught a whiff of something else.

The scent of clean water mixed with wildflowers glided through the door. Raquel laid eyes on a stunning, Mexican woman with pallid skin, sombre eyes, and wet, wavy hair falling over her shoulders- La Llorona was her name. She glanced over her shoulder as if something had been following her. She did this last time; Raquel started to wonder if she should be concerned. This diner was a gift from her coven, and she would do anything to protect it.

Raquel pasted on her best hostess smile. "Welcome back."

La Llorona quickly regarded Raquel. "Yes, gracias."

She took her usual seat, farthest away from the jukebox playing an old song no one remembered. Raquel ambled around the diner, checking in with her guests, but all the while, perusing.

La Llorona pulled energy from the liminal walls of the diner, busting a bulb or two. She used the energy to add some color to her skin, made her lips less dead, and made her hair less wet. She dressed herself in a tight, black dress with hoops and black pumps. She was out for a hunt. Raquel wondered who her target would be tonight. And then her eyes settled on Raquel's pick- the trucker.

A low growl rumbled from Raquel's throat as she crossed her arms, her lips pursed. Well, she could always find someone else to feed on. She scanned the diner, but her eyes found themselves back to La Llorona. Her eyes traced the fullness of her breasts. A sense of possessiveness curled inside her hollow chest. Conflicting emotions surfaced.

She approached La Llorona's table with a forced, slow gait, her growl deepening. "Hi there," she began, mustering up all her Southern charm. "I would politely ask you to pick some other companion for the night; don't need anyone stirrin up trouble in my diner."

La Llorona's hand snaked around her mug, and she lifted it with the grace of a queen accepting tribute. She took a measured sip before meeting Raquel's eyes with an amused glint. "Trouble?" Her voice was sweet and smooth like syrup on buttermilk pancakes. Her eyes flickered from Raquel to the trucker. She revealed a sly grin. "All I see is opportunity, senorita."

As a vampire, Raquel was used to being the one who charmed and seduced. But La Llorona's words curled around her like sultry smoke.  "Opportunity's off limits," she snapped. "Try your luck somewhere else. There's a bar down the road with plenty-uh, opportunities."

La Llorona flicked her hair, and Raquel watched every single strand fall into perfect place. "But, I like it here." She set her cheek in the palm of her hand. "The company is much more…interesting."

Raquel's jaw clenched. "I'm not asking."

La Llorona stood, leaned in close, and whispered, "Neither am I." She sauntered over to the table with the trucker; Raquel tried not to ogle the way that dress hugged her ass. Raquel's hands tightened against the edge of the table, her knuckles pale against her dark skin.

La Llorona and the trucker talked and laughed. She leaned back with an air of regal disinterest. Her words were for the trucker, but her eyes never left Raquel. It felt like a challenge, a dare, and it took everything Raquel had not to rise to it.  She hated the way she felt- possessive, yes, but also… concerned. Something wasn’t quite right about this revenant.

She picked up a stray broom, trying to act casual as she watched La Llorona rise from the booth, her movements unnaturally graceful. La Llorona leaned  toward the trucker, murmuring something too soft for Raquel to hear. Whatever it was, it made the trucker grin and stand, grabbing her jacket.  

Raquel's chest tightened as she watched them head for the door, La Llorona trailing just behind, her hips swaying with the kind of confidence that made Raquel's hollow chest burn.  

La Llorona left with the trucker, leaving Raquel to stew in a boiling mix of frustration, curiosity, and something else she couldn't quite name.  Something about La Llorona's presence made every dead nerve come alive.

The tick of the old, broken clock on the wall ticked way too loud. She swept until one of her waitresses shooed her away so she could do the rest of the cleaning. Finally, Raquel swore under her breath and pushed out into the night.  

The air was cool, oppressed with humidity, and something else. The street lights flickered. The bushes and trees bristled as if they were shaken by a presence Raquel hadn’t spotted yet. Her ears flicked, and her shoulders tightened. The trucker's smattering and La Llorona's cajoling captured her attention. She saw them at the corner of the cracked, black pavement of the parking lot.

           La Llorona's face lost its color as she took a hand back while holding the trucker's arm. "You okay?" she asked, confusion laced in her tone.

La Llorona's lips hooked the trucker's with a hurried, desperate hunger, her hand threading through her hair as if holding a protective charm. The soft gasp the trucker gave in response sent a ripple of heat through Raquel's cold, dead body. Every tilt of La Llorona's head, every graze of her fingers against the trucker's jawline. Something raw and primal ignited in the cavern of her chest, thrumming like a heart beating too fast. She couldn't tear her gaze away, her body betraying her with an awakening of longing she couldn't fully understand- or deny. "Do you want to maybe go somewhere a little more private?" she whispered, edged with panic.

The trucker voiced Raquel's question burning through her head. "What are you running from?"

"What indeed are you running from?" A guttural, deep voice arose from the darkness. All three creatures turned to face the monster that landed before them. The cracks of the pavement crawled outward like the sprawl of a spider's web. The trucker and La Llorona clutched each other, shaking.

Raquel had lived a long time, but she had never seen something so horrid. It towered over them all; if she had a heart, it would be racing; if she had blood, it would have gone cold. Finally, she broke into the primal instinct screaming inside her body, and she dashed back into the diner. She hadn't come alone. La Llorona and the trucker had followed. The monster's claws slammed against the door. Its roar made Raquel's ancient bones rattle.

Raquel faced an empty diner. All the apparitions, sensing the dark presence outside, vanished. The shifters snuck out the windows. Even her employees had run. Bunch'a cowards, she snarked inside her head. She reached behind the counter and pulled out her shotgun. Despite her fear, she wasn't going to let this monster tear down what was rightfully hers.

La Llorona tapped her arm. "No, senorita. You can't kill it that way."

Raquel frowned. "What do you suppose we just stay in here and cower?" She shook her head. "Somebody's got to do something."

"It's not safe."

Raquel growled. "Why did you bring this thing here?"

La Llorona flinched. "I- I didn’t mean to end up here; I- I just felt so safe here- I- I'm sorry; I didn't know where else to go." She hugged herself, hunching her shoulders and making herself appear small.

"Shit, shit, shit." Raquel almost forgot about the trucker, but there she was pacing and raking her hands through her hair. She tried pulling out her phone to make a call, but the signal was hard to get in this space. She shoved her useless phone in her pocket.  "What are we going to do? This shit is crazy!"

"I- I will go and face it. Get it away from here; this is my problem; I shouldn't burden others with it." A deep gloom shadowed her eyes.

Raquel's shoulders lowered, regretting her harsh words. She contemplated as their gazes locked. The look of her frightened face dredged up memories of her life before her coven taught her how to control her bloodlust- the victims she had slaughtered. She sighed. The monster banged on the door. Raquel cocked her gun, her mind made up. "Well, it’s my problem now too."

The monster burst through the door. Raquel aimed her gun like her coven mother once taught her who had once been a notorious outlaw. She shot, and the monster shuddered. She shot again and again and again. It slunk out of the diner, but Raquel's gut was telling her it was not done. "Get behind the counter!" she ordered over her shoulder.

The monster reached a long arm through the window, trying to strike the trucker. La Llorona pushed the trucker out of the way as Raquel shot the monster back. At last, there was a startling quiet. Raquel's eyes darted around the diner, trepidation keeping all her senses alert. She joined the trucker and La Llorona behind the counter. "It looks like it's gone for now."

La Llorona shook her head. "It will come back."

"I ain't seen nothin' like this. What is that thing?"

“I don't know; all I know is that it latched onto me one night luring me with a toy duck and the promise of my children. It's grown more powerful, and it collects spirits." She hugged her knees to her chest. "There were others held prisoner like me. I managed to escape, and it wasn't happy about that."  

"Well, that's no good." I’ll have to ask my coven mother about this creature; maybe she’ll know, Raquel thought to herself. A pang of hunger made Raquel grit her teeth. Oh right; she hadn’t eaten. “Another not good thing. I'm hungry.” The trucker flinched, backing up against the counter. Her heart was beating way too fast; the rush of her blood only made Raquel hunger more. But no, her coven mother had taught her how to control it very well. She would not undo all that teaching for one night. "You're a- a- vampire?" Her eyes widened. 

"How do I know that?"

"Suppose you'll have to trust me."

"And if I don't?"

Raquel shrugged. "Wise choice." She glanced over the counter to see a shadow moving. Her keen ears picked up on the movement of the monster, searching, waiting. "Wise, if you had any other choice, human."

"Edna" She frowned. "If I'm going to trust you, at least use my name."

Raquel met the trucker’s gaze, her dark eyes locking with hers in a way that felt heavier than a simple acknowledgment. A slow smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Wish we coulda met under different circumstances," she said, her voice a low murmur as her gaze flicked down to the trucker's lips before returning to her eyes. "Name's Raquel."

"What? Like with your teeth around her neck?" La Llorona spat. 

"Don't act like the same thought hadn't crossed your mind too," Raquel snapped back. La Llorona and Raquel glared at each other.  

Edna cleared her throat. "If I'm going to trust any of you, could we not talk about eating me?" 

La Llorona sighed. "I'm sorry about all of this," she offered, fingers digging into her spectral flesh.

Edna raked her hands through her cropped hair. "Wasn't your fault. I'm just scared."

"Think we all are." All three beings met gazes, a shared sense of fear bonding them.

The monster jumped on the counter and roared; a loud sound that dwindled to a childlike scream, "Mommy, where are you? What are you doing to me?" Raquel almost dropped her gun. La Llorona clamped her hands over her ears and closed her eyes.

It grabbed Edna. She kicked and screamed, but the monster sank its claws into her arm and dragged. Raquel quickly composed herself and shot, shot, shot until it released Edna. It slunk off again, as if it were toying with them.

La Llorona rushed by Edna's side. "Are you alright; this is all my fault; I'm so sorry. Ay dios mios."

The smell of blood was even stronger now. Raquel clutched her stomach.  "Quiet; that's not helpful," she barked at La Llorona. Edna sat up, holding her bleeding arm. Raquel's hunger was so loud. "Edna, I highly suggest you make your way to your truck; I don't want to hurt you."

To make matters worse, the monster lunged at her. The gun skidded to the far corner. Raquel struggled, her hands landing in the soft, pulsing splits between white rattlesnake skin. It smelled like a drunken man's throw-up and rotting meat. Raquel's hunger made it hard to fight with just her bare strength. It managed to pin her down, and it was like a boulder on her back. She couldn't tell if it was because of the monster's mass or if it was because she was so weak from hunger.

A lousy shot hit near the monster, earning its attention. Raquel spotted Edna holding her shotgun and La Llorona standing beside her. It took two giant steps towards them, and Raquel felt absolutely useless. It roared, and the roar dwindled again to something trying to imitate a child's voice. "Mommy," it said before its head bent to an unnatural angle.  Then, the monster lunged.

La Llorona's eyes widened, and she screamed. A miracle happened. Her screams echoed off the liminal walls, making it resound like a warrior's cry, and the monster shuddered- hurt or intimidated; Raquel couldn't tell, but it did something. "Shoot!" Raquel managed to get out. Edna aimed the gun and pulled the trigger, but shit. It ran out of bullets. Edna swore under her breath. Instead, she swung the butt of the gun like a sword. She banged it upside the head over and over and over. Finally, it retreated back to outside- back to the safety of the darkness.

Raquel rose to her feet and marched over to Edna. "Why didn't you run?!"

Edna frowned. "And leave y'all like this; I can't do that. Wouldn't be right."

Raquel shook her head. "It's obviously not safe here."

"It's not safe until we're all safe," Edna said, her eyes unwavering and fierce. Raquel wanted to kiss her right then. Or bite her neck. Sometimes, hunger confused things.

"What happened?" La Llorona asked.

"This diner has special energy; my coven and I made sure to cultivate it as a safe space for supernatural creatures. Perhaps it was trying to help by giving you the boost we need to fend off this thing," Raquel explained, feeling grateful for her coven's gift.

"So, we can fight it?" La Llorona's eyes twinkled with hope like a star in the dark sky.

Raquel nodded. "I think so."

"That makes sense. I remember when it held me captive, I didn't cry. I felt absolutely nothing."

"Sounds awful," Raquel said. Then, her hunger reared its ugly head again. She bent over in pain.

"Are you okay?" asked Edna and La Llorona at the same time.

"I'm fine."

There was a long pause. "Will I turn into a vampire if I give you some of my blood?"

Raquel gaped at Edna. "It's fine; I already said I won't hurt you."

"That wasn't my question."

"No. I'd have to bite you a certain way."

Edna extended her bleeding arm. "If we're going to beat this thing, we'll need you at full strength."

Raquel’s eyes widened, and she stepped back. "Are you sure?"

"Hurry, before I come to my senses," Edna said as she closed her eyes.

Raquel licked the blood, and she fed. She was delicate and careful. Edna cracked open one eye, and their gazes locked- the connection coming alive. Raquel sensed every little thing when her lips brushed against Edna's skin; she felt Edna's blood rushing against her tongue, her heart thumping in a rhythm that made Raquel hum. She ended the feed with a soft, tender kiss. "Thank you."

Edna nodded, a blush creeping across her cheek. La Llorona watched curiously, and she cleared her throat.“So, the plan?” she said, snapping Raquel’s attention back to the situation at hand.  

“Right.” They huddled close, and Raquel explained her plan.

Raquel, Edna, and La Llorona perched on the counter; they talked about everything and nothing, their conversation flowing like an unhurried river. “I gotta say this night has been full of surprises,” Edna said with a gentle laugh. “Who knew I’d be having a night out with a vampire and a ghost?”
        “This is more chaos than I’m used to I gotta say. Next time, I’ll make it a simple dinner and show,” Raquel teased.
          Edna smirked. “Can we make it a date?”
           Stone cold vampire queen and owner of several diners suddenly felt bashful under Edna's earnest gaze. She had never dated a human before, but she couldn't deny that she was very attracted to Edna. However, she was also attracted to La Llorona, who was turned around with crossed arms. “Someone like you isn’t taken already?" Raquel asked.
           "Nah, I'm single, and poly."
            Raquel tilted her head. "Guess the night's not the only thing full of surprises."
            La Llorona glanced over her shoulder. "What is poly?"
            "It means I can love more than one person- being? at a time so long as that's okay with you."
            La Llorona considered this, curiosity glowing in her eyes.  "Interesting; do you not get jealous?"
            Edna shrugged. "We would just talk about it. It's all about honesty, communication, and trust to me; it's not for everyone, but it can be a freeing way to live." She gave a nervously warm smile. "But, I feel a connection with you two and I'd like to explore them both, if that's okay."
              Raquel glanced at La Llorona as if seeing her for the first time; the attraction she felt for her rushed through her body like a busted dam. "Sounds fine to me, but let's make sure we live first."
            La Llorona nodded. "Si."
            Raquel filed away the details of this conversation for later, her mind teasing at the possibilities while the soft hum of their chatter eased the tension of waiting. Finally, the monster charged at them, the calm suddenly shattered. "Cry La Llorona!" Raquel ordered.

La Llorona's scream resounded, a war cry bellowing throughout the diner, its haunting power a weapon. Raquel and Edna worked on the monster. Edna had the butt of the gun, and Raquel had out her claws. They swung and swung and swung; Raquel clawed and clawed. They sent that monster squealing and running. "That's right, and don't you come back!" Raquel yelled as it ran away.

They all exchanged proud glances. La Llorona hugged Raquel, kissing her cheeks. Edna and Raquel shared a satisfied smirk. "I don't know if that killed it. It may come back, but if it does, you come here, you're safe here, understand?"

"Thank you both."

"Well, I'll definitely be back," Edna said, a playful wink punctuating her words as she slipped a small piece of paper into Raquel's hand. Her fingers brushed Raquel's just long enough to linger, sending a quiet thrill down Raquel's spine.

Raquel watched as Edna sauntered to her truck, her movements full of ease, the rumble of the engine breaking the dawn's stillness. Raquel raised a hand in a casual wave, though her chest felt anything but calm as Edna's truck disappeared down the road, leaving a faint trail of dust. She glanced down at the number in her hand, her thumb tracing the curve of the handwritten digits, a flicker of a smile pulling at her lips.

"She's something, isn't she?" La Llorona's voice was soft, carrying a knowing lilt. Raquel turned to find the ghost's gaze fixed on her, a mischievous twinkle lighting her spectral eyes.

"Thank you," La Llorona said, her tone shifting, sincere now, carrying an undercurrent of something vulnerable and rare.

Raquel shrugged, slipping the number into her pocket. "Why? We didn't even kill it."

La Llorona's expression softened, a smile curving her lips. "But you gave me hope and safety. That means more to me than you'll ever know."

Raquel hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer. The air between them was heavy with the warmth of shared understanding. When La Llorona leaned in, Raquel met her halfway, their lips brushing in a kiss as gentle and fleeting as the first rays of sunlight breaking over the horizon. The sun bathed them in its golden glow, a quiet promise of a new beginning.