As they stepped into the building, Silas walked alongside her before settling into the booth across from her. A woman approached their table, placing a menu in front of them with a warm smile. "Hello, thank you for choosing to dine with us. You can call me Lila," she introduced herself.
Unbeknownst to Lila, there was an undercurrent of tension between the two seated at the table. Silas scanned the room, observing the diners enjoying their meals, blissfully unaware of the hidden danger lurking nearby—a monster in their midst.
Silas felt an overwhelming urge to shout a warning, to tell everyone to flee from the woman beside him. He shook his head, chastising himself; she wasn't just a woman—she was a monster, a wolf disguised in sheep's clothing.
A sudden kick from beneath the table jolted him from his thoughts. He looked up to find her still smiling at him, though her eyes held a knowing glint that sent a shudder down his spine.
"Thank you, we'll take a look at the menu," she said sweetly to the waitress, who nodded with a bright smile before leaving. "I'll be back to take your orders."
Silas watched Lila's figure fade away, then turned to the woman who had practically abducted him, his voice trembling as he asked, "What are you?"
Leaning back in the booth with a casual demeanor, she rested her chin on her hand and replied with a playful smirk, "Can you guess?"
Despite the fear tightening in his chest, Silas managed to stammer, "Are… are you a vampire?"
Her grin widened, a mischievous acknowledgment that confirmed his worst fears. Silas realized she was indeed different, and the revelation that she was a vampire sent a wave of dread through him. "What do you want from me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The woman replied, "Let's discuss that later; first, order your food." Silas felt a flicker of irritation rising within him, but he was wise enough to keep it hidden. All he wanted was clarity about his fate—was he facing death soon? What were her intentions for him?
He picked up the menu, attempting to steady his nerves, and scanned the options: hamburgers, steaks, salads, and more. Despite his lack of appetite, he spotted something he wanted. He figured that if he could find a way to escape, he would need all his strength.
Setting the menu down, he turned to the smiling woman and said, "I'll have the sirloin steak, broccoli, and mashed potatoes, please."
With a nod and a smile, she raised her arm, signaling to Lila, who approached and asked, "Are you ready to order?"
The woman nodded, hands resting under her chin, and replied, "Yes, he's ready."
Silas frowned at her, questioning, "Aren't you going to eat?"
He noticed her secretive smile, as if she found something amusing in his inquiry. "Don't you know? Vampires don't eat human food," she said.
Silas looked at her in surprise, then at Lila, who chuckled at the comment. "Wow, good joke," she said, unaware of the truth behind the words.
The woman smiled again but added, "I'm not hungry, so just take his order."
Lila nodded hesitantly, then turned to Silas and asked, "What would you like?"
Silas expressed his orders to her, watching as she diligently noted everything in her small notepad before she departed. He glanced at her, suddenly aware that he didn't know her name, and his expression turned uncertain. She noticed the hesitation on his face and prompted him, "What? Just say it. What do you want to know?"
With a tentative voice, he inquired, "What's your name?"
He was taken aback by the fleeting sadness that crossed her features, unsure of what he had triggered. Yet, just as quickly, the sorrow vanished, replaced by a playful grin. "I'm Keira Balcom," she replied, her tone light.
At that moment, Lila approached, distributing drinks on the table. Silas frowned when he noticed Keira's glass was empty, contrasting with his full cup. As he watched her prepare to leave, he turned to Keira, curiosity piqued. "Why is your glass empty?"
With a teasing smile, she replied, "You'll find out later."
Silas took a sip from his drink, the coolness refreshing his thirst, but an unsettling feeling crept over him, leaving him puzzled about the source of his unease.
He placed the glasses down, confusion clouding his eyes, and then posed another question that had just popped into his head, "If you're a vampire, how can you walk in the sun?"
Silas was taken aback when Keira burst into laughter. He noticed her body tremble slightly with each chuckle, leaving him puzzled about what was so amusing.
After a moment, Keira composed herself, brushing her tousled, wavy black hair away from her face. With a sigh, she flashed a playful grin, though her eyes held a mysterious depth, "Well, that's a secret. It's true that vampires can't walk in the sun, but I'm not like the others. You certainly have a lot of questions."
Silas shrugged, gazing at her. He wanted to ask something, but fear held him back. Yet, the need for answers was strong, so he whispered, "Is he dead?"
Keira understood who he meant and replied, resting her chin on her hand, her dark eyes glinting with something unspoken, "So you've finally decided to ask? Yes, your dear friend is dead. I watched as his body lay still, taking his last breath in that alley."
Grief washed over Silas like a tidal wave, his heart plummeting as if struck by a truck. Pain gripped him, and he felt tears threatening to spill, but he fought to hold them back.
Keira then rose from her seat and moved closer to him, the cushion sinking beneath her weight. Silas felt a surge of resentment toward her growing in his heart.
His sorrow and thoughts were interrupted by her gentle fingers brushing against his cheeks, where tears had begun to fall.
Silas instinctively recoiled, watching in shock as she lifted her fingers to her mouth. He gasped softly, horrified yet fascinated, as she tasted his tears, her eyes fluttering shut in the moment.