William shook his head. “No. And he was right. I know a few of them who would come after a woman like you, a witch I mean. You really shouldn’t trust our bunch. But I’m here for something different. I have to favor to ask.”
“What kind of favor?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
William stopped. “Maybe we can to a bar for a drink. Somewhere we can talk.”
She nodded, feeling her stomach do a somersault. Despite wanting to remain professional in front of him, she feared she was blushing ever-so-slightly due to the fact that he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes in in real life, and she had lived for quite a long time. She tried to hide her face as she pointed to her car. “Sure. You eat and drink like everyone else?”
“Don’t believe everything you read in a book,” he said, nodding towards the book she held in her hands. “Yes, I can eat and drink and I enjoy it when I do, but it’s not a necessity every day as it is for mortals. Still, I haven’t been out in ages, and maybe it would help put you at ease.”
“I’ve been around worse.” She looked at him before getting into her car. “How do I know you’re a real vampire?”
“Well, you felt my presence. Isn’t that enough to go by? I felt yours, too. Only yours isn’t as strong as other vampires,” he replied, then pointed to his vintage black sports car. “I’ll follow you.”
Fifteen minutes later, they both sat at a bar. Both of them ordered drinks. William added a basket of fries. “You only live once,” he said with a sinister smile. Marie couldn’t help but laugh.
After the bartender left, William leaned in close. “I have to admit, you’re not what I was expecting,” he said, looking at her breasts then slowly making his way to her lips.
Marie blushed again, and deep down inside, she liked how he was looking at her. She cleared her throat. “And I can see why you were chosen. You could have been an Italian movie star,” she said, truthfully. Her body was reacting to him in ways that she hadn’t experienced in years. Maybe coming for a drink was a bad idea. She needed her wits around this vampire.
William nodded. “Yeah, I know. Not to sound cocky, but my looks are why I was chosen.” William looked at her, smiling. “What about you? Is that what you really look like? Or is it some kind of trick? Are you some old hag in rags? Is this the image you choose for others to see you?”
She gave him a dead-pan look. The audacity of this vampire. She wanted to hate him, but she already knew that would be hard. “Would I look more realistic if I had a wart on my nose?”
He laughed. “No, no. I just didn’t realize you’d be young.”
“I’m not young. I’ve looked thirty for a long time. When I find a partner and settle down, the aging process will slowly start, but I still have time before even that happens. How about you? How old are you?”
“I was twenty-eight when I was taken. I’ve been twenty-eight ever since.” He leaned in close to her, a serious look on his face. “It’s gone on for far too long. My life, I mean. It’s why I came to you. I want out.”
She looked at him then, a surprised look on her face. “What are you suggesting?”
“Look, I’m having some problems with immortality. I was hoping you could help me figure this out,” he said, looking around to make sure no one was listening. “I want you to kill me,” he said, his voice a whisper. He took a French fry and ate it, staring straight ahead.
Marie stared at him, open-mouthed. “I can’t believe you’re eating as if what you just said to me is the most casual thing in the world.”
William shrugged as if he were bored. “I’m resigned to it.”
Marie had a serious expression on her face, staring at him, wanting him to elaborate. William turned to face her. “Look, I’m sick of all of this,” he said in a whisper. “This life, these clothes, the hunger. I am powerless to stop it. Marie, I’m hoping you can help me. I can pay. I can pay well.”
She didn’t say a word. Instead, she took a large gulp of her drink, making a face afterwards.
William watched her, waiting for her response. He slid the fries over to her, trying to keep things casual and light. Marie took one and popped it into her mouth. She shook her head. “I won’t do it. This isn’t what we’re here to do. We’re here to help people.”
William looked at her imploringly. “You would be helping me a great deal, actually. And think of all those animals I won’t have to kill once I’m gone.”
She looked at him, feeling angry at him. “Animals? William, I eat meat. I’ve had a very long life and I devour meat. You think I go around blaming myself for the circle of life?”
“But you have the option of not having to. And, I don’t see you or anyone here strangling dinner to get it,” he said in an angry whisper as he got into her face.
“Is that the only reason why? Because you feel empathy for other life?” she asked, not backing down. She took a long sip of her drink.
“My life has been a whole lot of nothing. It’s been a waste. This isn’t a gift, it’s a curse.” He looked around. “These zombie humans over here, and their technology, their whole existence, all of it, is a waste.” He was started to get heated, too.
“Woah, woah, calm down.” They ate French fries in silence, both of them thinking.
Marie smiled, turning to look at him. “There’s got to be something to live for. Surely, you binge-watch Netflix like everyone else?”
He gave her a blank expression.
“You mean to tell me you haven’t even seen Kings and Queens of Winter?”
“Kings and Queens of Winter? What is that?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “For a man with all the time in the world, you sure are missing quite a bit. No wonder you want out.”
“You don’t know the first thing of why I want out. You don’t know what it feels like to be hungry, to have to hunt, to regret each life that ends just so that I could go on just like this. For nothing, for no one.”
“Oh, spare me, William.” She pushed the plate of fries aside and threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table.
William put a hand on her arm. “Wait,” he said, taking a business card out of his wallet. “I’m staying here for another week. Please, change your mind. Come see me. I keep nighttime hours, so any time after the sun goes down would be much appreciated.”
She didn’t say goodbye and William didn’t turn to watch her leave. Instead, he ate the rest of the French fries in silence and ordered one more drink.
Fuck this life, he thought.
Chapter Two
It had been three days since their encounter. Marie got out of her car, the sun setting starting its descent into the west. There would still be an hour of sunlight.
She adjusted the brim of her fedora and headed straight to the hotel, bypassing the lobby. In the three days since she had met William, she couldn’t get him out of her head. She had to admit, she was fascinated by him. He was only the second vampire she had ever met and far more appealing to look at than the first one she had come across. She decided she wanted to help him. Her own mother had helped a vampire with a similar request almost a hundred years ago. How was this any different?