Dinner is served!-3
959 Words
Serena walked over to him. She kissed him, and led him over to the draped support.
“And now,” she announced. “My latest, choicest, and by far, I think you’ll agree, tastiest companion……”
Ripple of polite laughter!
“……is going to assist me in unveiling your Christmas present.”
Serena motioned for Simon to grab hold of the end of the golden rope, which was suspended above the drape.
She leaned in and whispered in his ear. “It’s quite heavy, so when I give you the signal, give it a good tug until my surprise is revealed.”
Simon grasped the rope tightly with both hands.
“To you, my loving family,” she moved back, out of the way. “Merry Christmas.”
At Serena’s nod, Simon yanked the rope downwards.
Serena had not been joking about it being heavy, and it took him all his strength to finally lift the cover from its prize.
Simon heard the audience gasp as their surprise came into view. He himself could not see what had been revealed yet, as all his concentration was taken up in ensuring that the heavy rope did not slip from his grasp.
Once the drape was high enough he tied the rope off against a nearby pillar, and stood back to admire what everyone else could see.
Instead of a picture, as he had suspected the gift would be, the present was in fact a large mirror.
It was very ornate, with carved swirls of gold surrounding the frame, and what looked like different coloured jewels embedded in the gilt.
An odd sort of present, he thought, but then he supposed it was very fitting in the present surroundings, and from the approving noises being made by the rest of the family behind him, he surmised it was very much appreciated.
He glanced over at Serena, she was smiling at him, with a glint of what appeared to him to be mischief in her eyes.
He smiled and looked back at the mirror.
It was then that it struck him.
Something seemed odd.
At first, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was, but there was definitely something weird about this mirror.
He looked harder at his reflection.
Then it dawned on him…His was the only reflection he could see!
Simon turned.
Behind him everyone had moved closer as if to inspect their gift, and yet they appeared to be looking more at him than at the mirror.
He turned back, quickly.
His was still the only reflection he could see.
He turned to Serena. She was still smiling at him, but now, through her ruby-red lips, Simon was sure he could see a flash of pointed white teeth.
Confused, he turned back to the group behind him.
Now they all too showed the same feature as Serena.
Each of them had pointy white incisors protruding from their upper jaws.
Some of them were smiling broadly, as if proud of their protuberances.
Others were l*****g their lips in anticipation.
All eyes were on Simon.
And in their gaze, he saw a look of longing!
Wanting!!
Hunger!!!
They started to move slowly towards Simon, the gap between them and him growing smaller by the second.
Simon panicked. Suddenly they seemed everywhere, surrounding him, cutting off all avenues of escape.
He had nowhere to go!
He turned to Serena. Now her mouth was fully open, and her bright white fangs were on full display.
From the corner of his eye, Sarah came into view.
She was dressed as before, not in formal costume like everyone else, including him.
She was smiling, but in her case there were no fangs on display.
Simon called out to her in desperation.
“Sarah!!!!” He screamed.
Sarah moved closer, as if unaware of the baying crowd before her.
She laughed. “Oh Simon, I am sorry, but you must understand - they have to feed to live.”
Simon moved his mouth up and down in disbelief, his mind racing, searching desperately for something to say which might mitigate his present situation….but no words would come out!
He turned again. His reflection was still the only one he could see in the mirror. Then, slowly, Sarah’s image came into view behind his.
He spun round. “But, you,” he managed. “What about you?”
Sarah laughed, “Oh I’m perfectly safe. I told you, I’m from a distant branch of the family. They need me to do the daytime stuff that they can’t attend to.”
She moved through the gathering mob and came up beside him.
“They need me, you see.” She gently stroked his face, and planted a light kiss on his cheek. “And besides…I’m family.” She ran her hand over his hair, patting it down slightly. “They need you too…,” she whispered, her mouth so close he could feel her breath in his ear. “…But for another reason.”
Simon felt a strong hand grasp his shoulder. He looked back, and saw the doorman who had let him in earlier in the evening.
Before Simon could respond the man’s other hand grabbed him by the waistband of his trousers, and he felt himself being hoisted through the air as he was carried over to the refreshment table.
Before the big man could reach his destination, some of the crowd rushed forward and swept the food from the table onto the floor. Plates crashed, glasses smashed, cold meat, bread rolls and fruit spread across the polished oak.
The doorman slammed Simon down so hard on the table that he felt the wind being knocked out of him upon impact.
Most of the spilled food was crushed underfoot by the rampaging mob, eager to reach their helpless prey.
Suddenly hands from everywhere were upon Simon’s body, holding him down.
He couldn’t move!
He could barely breathe!
Simon looked up at the hungry, yawning maws which salivated, drooling droplets of spittle on him from above.
Selena’s face suddenly came into view above him.
She smiled down, her fangs now gone, replaced by her perfect white teeth.
She looked so beautiful.
She winked at him, then moved away, out of his field of view.
As one, the ravenous crowd fell upon him!
- Writer
