Scarlet watched him as she walked away. Even as the darkness swallowed him, she went on looking. She had this eerie feeling that she had seen that stare before and it wasn’t in her imagination.
“K, get serious. You’re going to let your imagination take over.” she pulled her gaze away from him and turned to her friend. “I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it. Maybe I just resemble someone he knows.”
“Keep telling yourself that. I have an eye for these things. But if you won’t admit it, then take me home. I’m exhausted.” they waved bye to the girls and headed to the car. “You know if the blonde wasn’t so rude he might have had a shot with me.”
“Sure K.” Scarlet hummed, Kayla always evaded relationships, and she didn’t want to relieve her parents’ life.
***
It was the lunchtime rush. The diner was full at this time. They ran back and forth taking orders, bussing tables, and giving refills. Scarlet’s feet already hurt. They were only an hour in. one more hour and the people would start clearing out. Soon it would be half empty, she couldn’t wait for the hour to be over already.
“Hey Scar, your boyfriend is on his way here.” Kayla chucked as Scarlet lost her balance trying to get a clear view of the door.
Scarlet looked out the window and saw him slowly close the distance between them. His beauty made a gasp escape her throat. She had seen handsome men before but there was something about Stephan that made her weak in the knees. Everything about him seemed powerful, he handled himself with importance. His posture and stance were that of authority and leadership. He reminded her of Troy the warrior.
When he moved, the contracting and relaxing of his muscles were visible under his black t-shirt. It clung to him showing off his tight broad chest. It was like his movements conveyed a combination of animal grace and reckless confidence. His eyes were deep and dark as the night sky, and somehow familiar. She only realized she had zoned out when the customer she was serving jumped out of his chair. The front of his trouser was drenched in coffee, and he was jumping around trying to cool the sudden heat on his pants.
She watched in horror, she was sure Joany was going to shout at her about customer care. The rest of the waitresses were snickering behind her, they knew all too well what had caught her attention. Who had caused the blister the customer was sure to have from the hot scorching coffee.
***
Stephan decided to go into the diner that afternoon. He could eat human food, he just preferred not to. It had been centuries since he last had human food. Today he would risk it, he wanted to see Scarlet once again. He didn’t understand his feelings towards her, since that night at the Warf. Her eyes drew him in. If it wasn’t for the fact that he could hear her heartbeat, he could have sworn she was a vampire compelling him.
He walked in and located an empty table. He didn’t want an audience in case the food didn’t sit well with him and it all came back up. He wasn’t sure if he should ask for her or wait till she came up to him. He assumed that she would at least say hi. Something was going on where Scarlet stood. It seemed to amuse everyone except the man, Joany, and her. He looked on curious and ready to step in, in case it got out of hand, and the outcome didn’t favor her.
He fiddled with his menu, and only looked up when Kayla came to take his order. She had a beautiful smile on her face. He smiled back at her.
“Hello Kayla, how is your day going?” Polite chatter wasn’t one of his strongest points but he had to try. He wondered why Scarlet hadn’t come up to him yet, he had already been there for ten minutes and the problem seemed to have been resolved.
“So I see you aren’t concerned about self-preservation.” she had a cheeky grin on her lips that reminded him so much of Solara.
He looked up at her startled. “Why would you say that?”
“You chose to come here for your lunch,” she whispered. “Pick your poison, and don’t say I didn’t warn you. As your friend, I am officially warning you.” She leaned to his ear and lowered her voice. “If I were you I would take a beer and salt, and maybe some bread. Do you know why?”
Stephan shook his head. Friend. He was beginning to find her more amusing than annoying. At this moment he was grateful he didn’t feed on her. Intrigued he asked why.
“They don’t make them here. As a friend, I am pleading you to order a cup of coffee and some scones.”
There was that word again, friend. He would have liked to have her as a friend, but it wouldn’t make much sense putting her in danger. Since the day Sotera died, he thought of himself and anyone close to him as a target. He nodded in agreement to her suggestion.
“Thank you for the heads up.” he thought he should ask her about the scene earlier but he had to phrase it in a way that he didn’t seem to be asking after Scarlet. “What happened to the guy with the wet pants?”
Kayla let out a high pitched laugh before she answered, “Ah… Scarlet was otherwise preoccupied…” she tried to hint that he was the distraction. “She poured coffee on the guy over there. She didn’t even notice until the guy was jumping up and down his hands on his crotch.” she let out another chuckle. “I think she torched his hopes at parenthood.”
Stephan laughed because she laughed. Kayla seemed to find humor in the oddest of places. Someone else’s expense. She sauntered away to get his order from the kitchen.
Stephan could feel the presence of a vampire nearby, he snapped his head up and looked around the diner. He then looked out the window. He could see Solara walk up to the garage. He thought it would be a lot less physical if they would talk in the diner. He wasn’t in the mood to fight. He didn’t need the drama. Scarlet was busy with the other customers so he thought he would indulge him for a while. Solara walked out of the garage annoyed by his absence, he paced around before his head snapped up in the direction of the diner.
Solara I’m at the diner.
He knew that he would be able to pick his thoughts out of all the people around him, he had mastered his voice well enough. He knew and hoped that he wouldn’t make a scene when the humans were around. There would be no salvaging their true identities if it happened.
***
From the other side of the diner, Scarlet watched her friend’s silly act of anger. She watched her as she huffed back to the kitchen and disappeared to the back for her break. She was not surprised at the reaction but was surprised that whatever the man did she let it get to her. It was unlike her she never lets anyone annoy her. She would always find a way to turn the table back on them.
Scarlet walked up to the two men at the table. “Hey, guys, nice to see you’re not at each other’s necks today. Hope you are…” Whatever she was saying disappeared when she looked at the table. Her eyes had trailed to the red liquid in the glass. “What in God’s name is that?”
She picked it up and carefully examined it afraid of what it might be. Kayla had a knack for revenge and they were never subtle and always had a terrible effect on the recipient. As she held the glass in her hand a million crazy theories went through her head.
“Ketchup!” she said letting out a long sigh. “You pissed her off, I have seen the cold treatment before, but this is harsh.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m Solara.” He stretched out his hand for hers.
“Scarlet. So I hope you two are comfortable despite the hostility.”
She chanced a glance at Stephan. He hadn’t said a word since she got there. She lingered for a while then she shrugged in defeat and left the table. She headed for the direction Kayla had disappeared to, with the glass of ketchup in her hand.
***
Stephan had wanted to talk to her that was the only reason he came in, in the first place. But at that moment he couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t at that moment he resented the feelings he had for her. He had only seen her twice before, and he was beginning to desire her. He would not let himself love anyone else. Neither would he allow it. Not after what he did. Rather what he failed to do. He tossed a couple of one-dollar bills on the table and left.
Stephan’s guard was up. He could feel Solara’s rage, he took a step to the side when he lurched at him. He stood and stared at him. He let his shield down so that the attacker could see his torment and pain. There was nothing that he could do to him that could hurt him more, than the thought of loving someone else.
Solara had looked into his mind, his face mirrored everything that he felt inside. Stephan knew that Solara hated him for loving his sister. He hadn’t avenged Sotera’s death. And now, Stephan was falling for a human.
Stephan didn’t know how to explain what he felt. Not to himself or anyone else. He had only loved once, he vowed never to love again. He would put himself in a position of vulnerability. Sotera’s face came to him. The night of her death haunted him. He was losing grip of his sanity. He could hear her pleas, her cries of pain, her and the tearing apart of her body. He could see the flames over her perfect body. He had seen both sides of love and he wasn’t about to face it again.
Later that night Stephan stared out his window. He decided not to allow himself to get close to Scarlet. He was relieved by the fact she wasn’t interested in him. Stephan went out to hunt, he hadn’t fed since the day he saw her, and besides it would keep him preoccupied for the next couple of hours.
***
Solara visited the diner as often as he could to torment Kayla. He took joy in seeing the scowl on her face every time he walked in. He never ordered anything, all he would do was ask for Kayla, and she would come at him with a glass of ketchup in hand. Joanie didn’t like it at first but when he started paying for it she never said a word. After a while, Kayla would look forward to seeing him, and when he wouldn’t come she became disappointed. They often wondered where he was when he wasn’t at the diner charming Kayla.
Solara walked into the diner, and as it was routine Kayla would always meet him at the door with a glass of ketchup in hand. He took a booth at the corner, something was on his mind. Today he did not seem disturbed by the men making passes at Kayla, he was too preoccupied to notice.
Usually, he was alert. Whenever he thought a man had made an improper gesture towards her, he would clear his throat and wave her over. Although they did not have a romantic relationship he was attached to her. Kayla had been the first woman with whom he looked past the physical beauty. She was smart and strong, sure of herself and her capabilities. She was a challenge for him and he believed that he had finally met his match.
Today something bothered him. He flipped his phone open and talked into it. A few minutes later Stephan walked in and took a seat across from him. The expression he wore showed that he was less than pleased.
What are you talking about and why did we have to meet here.
“This is bigger than you and the secret affection you have for the human. You can lie to yourself but not me. Remember I can read your mind,” he shrugged. “When you let me.”
Solara looked over at Scarlet who was serving a customer at the far end of the diner. Watching her, he realized that she was the woman who would replace his sister in Stephan’s heart. As angry as he felt, he knew it was time for Stephan to move on. There were more important things to deal with now. How long did he expect Stephan to hold on to the love of the dead?
Solara could feel Stephan’s impatience. It was like an itch taking over his body. If there was one thing he hated about being a vampire, it was the heightened senses.
“Get to the point!”
He took a deep breath before he spoke, he anticipated a negative reaction to what he was about to say. “The Conselho is at it again. They are on a rampage and very desperate if I may add.” he coughed out a laugh. The fact that someone had the all-powerful shaking in their boots made him ecstatic.
“They can’t keep track of their minions anymore apparently they need a firm hand, indiscipline and defiance under the new regime. Imagine that, they are beginning to think for themselves.” his lips curved into a grin, but Stephan did not seem to care. “They were having some difficulties with the other supernatural beings. Territorial issues boundaries and whatnot. Anyway, they need to have their warriors ready in case the beasts attack.”
He paused first waiting for the news to sink in. Stephan slightly shifted in his chair before he straightened up. He looked at Solara, a smirk on his face. The Conselho’s bad news was his good news but what did it have to do with him.
“You more than anyone know that I don’t care about that anymore. I left it behind and since…” Stephan couldn’t say the words, not out loud.
…Sotera died…
“I don’t care what happens to them anymore. So if that’s all that you had to tell me I will take my leave now.” Stephan got up to leave when Solara grabbed his wrist.