CURSE OF THE MOON

NEW LOVE

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 at 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 that time. They ran back and forth taking orders, buying tables, and giving refills. Scarlet’s feet already hurt. There was 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 trousers were drenched in coffee, and he was jumping around trying to cool the sudden heat in 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 to 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 if 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, if 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 get 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 that 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 with 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. From 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 with 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 talked in the diner. He wasn’t in the mood to fight. He didn’t need 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 humans were around. There would be no salvaging their true identities if it happened.