Truth

True, we are the most feared in the folklore world, but what can be said about stories can also be said about reality. The truth, of course is that we are not as, confined to the realms of fear and superstations as you might want us to be. We don’t die from a stake in the heart, 1 we don’t have them, 2 you could break your arm trying to thrust that hard, and if you managed to catch me while I slept there would be a good chance I might twitch and take your face off. Were not affected by sunlight, other than those that prefer it to the dark. Those being the ones who like to live like they are not who they are, and be assured they don’t live long any ways. No, we are the immortals of the Ancient fears, those that cannot be killed, well almost, but if I told you that, then I wouldn’t be all that wise now would I?

What are we? Well that’s an easy one I suppose. We are the vampires, not that we drink much blood either, that’s really just taken from our blood lust, our craving for destruction of human life. And so that I am perfectly clear on this, we are the strongest and most feared on earth, heaven and hell. I wouldn’t be an honorable warrior though if I neglected to mention, that there are our rivals, the opposite, the Arch Angels, but when was the last time you read a book about them. No this story is all mine. And forgive me if I don’t seem all that charming, my life has taken a bit of a turn. I guess the most straightforward albeit most awkward way to describe it is that, I broke from our ranks, attempted to side with the humans, was cast out and now I have no place to turn.

See, weird. Why would a creature with a simple and luxurious existence want to forfeit it all and live like a grub? Well, that’s not an easy question, but here is how it started.

I found myself cast out of Los Vegas with not even a scrap to survive on, not one lead and no hope of redemption. I must have traveled for at least a month before I walked into a small Texas town. Not that I was hungry, but it had been some time since I had last seen any number of beings, and I didn’t much care what they were so long as it wasn’t my head talking to me anymore.

The town was quiet, all except for a steak house, the kind that no matter where you went, there would always be one. The place was poorly lit, a novelty to make it appear more upper-class than the town no doubt deserved but, still it meant that even if someone looked straight at me, there would be no way to discern any remarkable features. The music was typical county and the place smelled of worn leather and food.

“Just the one?” said the man at the maître de’s station.

I replied by nodding. He picked up a menu and escorted me to a place in the middle of the room. Looked at me under my sweater hood and made an abrupt turn to another, more secluded booth. More to my liking and I think it made him feel better as well, it was the farthest from his place of duty.

I pulled back my hood and closed my eyes. Not too many people had noticed me on the way in, the TV was still bragging about a UT win over the OU and the crowds at the bar were much too busy with their fishing stories. Turns out there are a lot of fish in central Texas.

“Getcha’ anything hun?”

I was literally startled. Something that I knew was going to take some getting used to. I didn’t hear the waitress walk up and it was all I could do to not make eye contact.

“Paralizer.” I replied a little too hurried.

“Well we got a vet over there who would do ‘bout anything for me but I gather ya from a big city or sumtin’ so you probly, mean the drink.” She put her pad in her lap and bent over. “sure we got a full bar, but I wouldn’t ask for a mixed drink less you wanna puke it up later, sides, it messes with the stake.” She stood up straight again. “Red wine and biscuits then. Rachael will be your waitress, she just walked in.” the lady had turned and was walking away before I could say anything.

I could kill for a good paralizer right now.

Just as I was closing my eyes again to listen to the room I heard the set of heels approaching me. I was on alert this time. Before she made it to my table I could smell the white rain on her, not overly done, but still more than I like.

“Here you are sir. Are you ready to order?” she placed the biscuits and wine on the table. “Oh, I’m sorry I keep forgetting, my name is Rachael.”
“Steak, medium, baked potatoes, broccoli, and gravy.”

“Yes, yes sir,”

Did I really just hurt her feelings, wait, wow, hold on a second. You know those times people talk about, when time stops and all you can think about is the last 5 seconds and what happened, this was like an entire hour. Did I just ask myself if I hurt her feelings? Did I just show… an… emotion? Is that, is that what that was. And I was hurting with her.

“Miss.” I reached out and grabbed her arm before she could turn away, I grabbed it gently, I’ve never grabbed a human gently before in my existence.

She turned sharply with an angry tear in her eye. “What?” she said a little louder than what made me feel comfortable. Eyes were now turning.

My brain froze, I didn’t know what it was that I was trying to convey to her. “Th…Thank you?”

“Are you asking me or are you telling me?” she still had a tear drying on her check but she had a confused look on her face.

“Thank you, I didn’t mean to be so short with you. I’ve been on the road for a while now and I feel my manners are just catching up with me.” My predator side jumped in and coved for the awkwardness.

It didn’t help though, not by a long shot. She slowly turned, head still cocked to the side and instead of gliding away as she had arrived she took cautious steps to the order counter.

Great, all I could do to keep myself in the seat to see this night through I was trying, I counted the patrons. 37, 30 men 7 women, I counted the staff, 3 waitresses, a male maître de, two cooks, and a male bartender. All the staff, less the cooks in the back, were wearing black tops and black slacks, the women wore spaghetti straps, the men dress shirts. And the calming part of all this was that I was feeling a sense of control.

I sat back and thought to myself how I could be so foolish as to walk into a steak house and think I would go unnoticed. The only lucky part was that there were no denizens of either faction in here, neither heavenly nor beastly.

My mind wandered on this and that for at least 15 minutes before I heard those footsteps again. She was much too far away for it to be prudent ‘human’ behavior to look over, but I wouldn’t be startled or rude again. She dropped the plate just enough to let me know she was angry still. And for the first time I looked up at her face to convey a serious apology.

The world stopped again. Her eyes were deep brown matching her hair and the ceiling. She was a perfect fit for this establishment; she was a perfect match for what I would regard as beauty. I stuttered. I never stutter. “I…I…” she began to blush and was about to look away but I managed to catch myself. “I’m so very sorry for how rude I was, I should not have been short, or imagined in any way that you could be talked to in that manner. I feel I should let you know that you have my deepest apologies, and I would be honored if you would accept them.”

Her jaw dropped. She grabbed her shirt above her pockets, turned on her heal and walked quickly and directly to the back, where I could see the first waitress staring at her with a questionable look, then back and forth from her to me. Great, I did something again didn’t I? I sat shamefully staring at my plate before I picked up the knife and fork and began taking in the food.

What the heck has come over me?