Path of the Vampire forum

I stop with my hand on the door, unsure as to whether or not I really want to go inside. I'd looked through the window and while it seemed busy, it's not packed. I should still keep walking though. I could grab a bottle of Pinot Noir and head home. I'm sure Melete would enjoy a glass with me. There's a strange kind of feeling in the pit of my stomach as I think this but I brush it aside. I'm never going to get over my social phobia if I don't push myself every once in a while. One drink. Just one drink and I can seat myself by the door for a quick exit.

I look around the bar and try to avoid bumping into anyone as I nervously approach the bar. I take a moment to eye my surroundings. The place is clean, the patrons don't appear too worse for wear and I can see a few empty tables. I find myself rubbing the back of my neck with my right hand, something I know I do when I get nervous. I have to be honest. I'm a little tempted to order a bottle of wine at the bar and run home. Melete can be great company when she's in the right mood.

I steal myself and offer the barmaid a reassuring smile, though I think the gesture is more for myself than for her.

"I would like a glass of your best red wine please," I say with a confidence I don't really feel.

I brush down my tan pants with my hands and adjust the collar of my cream Tommy Hilfiger shirt, before smoothing the front of the shirt over too. I have on a pair of dark brown shoes to complete my look and despite the fact I've had a rather stressful day, it doesn't show in my outfit.

Cori had no want to go in to work her shift at Lancasters, this evening. The entire week had been one big cluster after another, and dealing with drunk patrons at the bar was not high on her list, at the moment. She had adorned her usual attire, a black tiny t shirt and pair of black skinny cargoes… she found this look most practical, for her job as a bouncer. Tonight, she had chosen to wear her knee high boots, that laced up the back, as opposed to her typical Doc Martens.

She did not spend much time getting dressed for work. Slicking her blonde hair up into a tight bun and applying the dreaded lip gloss, that Trahir hated..was all she did to dress herself up… It was work, after all. With a deep breath and a huge sigh, Cori pushed the door open to the bar. She always turned a few heads when she entered..as a medium height slender blonde, all dressed in black was not normal for Lancasters…as far as its patronage went.

Cori retreated to the back of the bar, per usual, to check in with the bartender and to let them know she was available. Cori had developed hand gestures where the bartenders could signal for her, in case they felt any trouble was going to ensue. She was ready for the night, as much as she could be. Something was missing… music. Lancasters usually had some sort of tunes playing when a band was not present, Cori came to expect it. A quick reach to the shelf and the radio was set to her favorite channel. The sound came out like a slow hum at first…then progressed to the usual radio lineup.

“ Can you bring this wine over to table 6, Cori?” The bartender asked. He was alone at the bar and the other server had yet to show up. “ Sure thing.” Cori replied with a slight smile. While Cori made her way over to the table to deliver the wine, she assessed the bar. The typicals were there along with a smattering of new patrons that she had never seen before. All the better for business, she thought.

Cori approached the table and was about to offer her typical “ Here is your drink.”…but something caused her to freeze in misstep… a male who was sitting at table 6. Cori shook her head a bit to get the slight haze that had come over her out…this male was human, but she was not thirsty and had no need to feed..so what was this feeling that was blossoming inside her…

Without much thought, Cori sat down on one of the chairs at table 6, placing her elbows upon the table and resting her chin upon them. She just stared...stared and smiled.

The barmaid is very friendly and tells me to take a seat and I don't argue, even though I'm almost positive that it would be quicker for her if she simply poured my drink while I waited. She took payment though while I stood there and had me gesture to the most likely table I would head to. I chose a booth by the door. Booths offer more privacy and protection. I have to admit, I don't really like standing at the bar with my back exposed to a room full of people. It's almost as if I can feel them more when I can't see them. I can't of course; it's just my anxiety kicking into overdrive. I consider tipping her before I leave but decide to hold off on doing that until she brings the wine over.

Having not been watching the bar, I don't notice her leave. I do however notice the music the moment it comes on. The tune isn't one I'm familiar with but then I don't listen to a great deal of music most of the time, it could be a very popular song for all I know. Stakeouts are quiet affairs and listening to music is not always advisable.

I watch a blonde as she walks towards my table, glass in hand. She seems the serious sort from the way in which she's dressed and styled, a little dangerous too perhaps as the woman had on some serious footwear. I would say that she looks out of place in this little Irish themed bar but then I'm not one to talk. While I may not look out of place per se, I do very much feel it. She's pretty, slender and probably about as tall as I am in her boots, if not an inch shorter perhaps. But it's her blue eyes that draw me in and cause me to smile at her even before I know she's bringing the glass to me.

I have my hands clasped, resting on the table in front of me and am a little taken aback when she takes a seat opposite me. I am immediately uncomfortable and push my back against the padded material to give myself a little distance, my hands falling into my lap as I do so.

"Erm... Can I... help you?" I ask, trying not to sound impolite.

I am happier talking to people one on one, but since I had no reason to think that the woman was going to join me, I had not prepared myself to speak. I don't stutter exactly but I was finding it hard to find my voice and so my sentence had come out a little broken.

I look at the female and then look around the edge of the booth toward the bar before looking to the glass of wine on the table. I'm not sure if that is for me or not, as she was not the woman that had served me. I couldn't see the woman that had served me though, so I'm left feeling a little unsure of the whole situation. I should have just picked up a bottle of wine and gone home.

Cori had not even realized that she had taken a seat at the patrons table, until he spoke to her with a hesitant tone. Realizing that she might have made him feel a tad uneasy, she pushed the wine glass towards him and said,“You ordered the red wine, correct?”

He was casually dressed and the collar of his cream colored shirt was turned up a bit…Cori had an inclination to reach out and fix it, but held back. He was not someone that had been in Lancasters recently, at least not while she was working. She surely would have noticed him.

Cori raised her arm and with outstretched hand said, “ Sorry, I’m Cori… I work security here. I actually do whatever I am asked in addition to security.”

"Erm... Well...Thank you."

I place two fingers on the base of the glass and slide it closer to me and the edge of the table. I don't pick it up or take a sip as it seems a little weird to be drinking when the woman in front of me has nothing before her and cannot do the same. Drinking would also indicate that I'm comfortable with this situation, but I'm not. Thankfully my heart beat hasn't changed any and I don't believe I'm showing any external symptoms that might give away my nerves. It's only my broken sentences that give the woman any clue as to my apprehension and I'm going to do my best to temper that.

"It's nice to meet you Cori."

I decide to speak in short sentences until I settle. I'm not tongue tied because of her beauty, I was caught off guard and am mentally scrambling to act normal. I do have a little more trouble conversing to the fairer sex at time and my own level of attraction to them can make things worse. Thankfully I've never had this problem around Melete but then I'd investigated her, so I knew who she was when she approached me that night. This woman is, or rather was, a mystery. I do now know a little about her, though I highly doubt her ability to be an effective member of any security team.

"My name is Elighan. I'm sorry if my order brought you over here. I would have waited for my drink, if the staff were under pressure."

I cast my eyes towards the bar again, but don't let them linger there for long as that would be rude. I may not have asked the woman, Cori, to join me but she's here now and I wasn't raised to disrespect a woman.

Cori had not met a human since she was turned, especially one that was a delectable as this male. She had passed many on the streets and had interfaced while she was at work. Rarely, did she ever have a conversation with one. Cori pulled her hand back and brushed it through her hair. Her brow furrowed, wondering why he did not want to touch her. The thought of being able to hold a warm hand, HIS warm hand caused something to ignite within her…something that she was not use to feeling.

“ It is a pleasure to meet you, Elighan.” Cori wanted to add more to this simple statement. Something like Damn, you look good enough to eat. Thinking it best not to scare this one away, she refrained. “We always help one another out here, it is like we are a big family. So it is not a problem to serve you, it is actually a sincere pleasure.” Cori did not want to lay it on too thick, she wanted to be subtle…to allow him to become comfortable with her.

Cori knew that most men were intimidated by her. Whether it was how she carried herself, or the simple fact that she had been called attractive by many...she was not really sure. What she was sure of, is she wanted this one…wanted him to see beneath the exterior…she wanted to make him hers.

Cori placed her hands upon the table, inches from where his glass lay… “ So Elighan, what brings you to Lancasters this eve?”

I'm not entirely sure why the woman is being so nice to me. Truth be told I'm not really all that used to people acting like this around me. She says it's a sincere pleasure to meet me but I can only assume that that is a line. It has to be. The woman is working me. I start to wonder if security is code for something else. The woman doesn't look much like a call girl though, and I should know since I spend a fair bit of time following men that like to employ their services. I can only see the woman from the waist up so I have to think back to the rest of her attire. She's dressed like some sort of female bouncer but I can't imagine her working the door. It's as I'm pondering this that I realise she might have seated herself with me to scope me out and see if I'm trouble. I'm sure I'm not the only lone person in this bar but I could be the most suspicious. Perhaps she mistook my nerves for malicious intent. I decide to engage the woman in polite conversation. If she sees I'm no threat to anyone she might just go away.

"I don't really have a reason to be here specifically," I begin. "I've had a rather stressful couple of days and tonight was particularly disappointing, so I decided to stop for a drink on my way home."

I stop myself from asking her what she's doing here, which would be the natural reply at this point. She works here and she must be on duty else she wouldn't be bringing me my drink. I decide to take a sip from my glass to make the silence seem more natural while I try to decide which part I want to play. Playing a part is easier at times than being myself and I can detach from the situation a little then, which puts me more at ease. The only problem is, I'm not sure how to behave so for now I'm left with no option but to be myself.

"How long have you been employed here? Do you enjoy your work?"

The moment I ask the questions I realise how pathetic I sound. Firstly the blonde, who identified herself as Cori, has already said that her team are like family, so I could probably assume that she does in fact enjoy her work. Secondly, asking someone how long they've been in their currently employment hardly leads to scintillating conversation. If she stays much longer, I may have to put a little more thought into what I'm saying.

Cori smiles and chuckles a bit. How long has she worked here..is this man serious?

Cori knew that getting into a long drawn out conversation about how she came to work at Lancaster's, may be a bit boring. She had no interest in sharing with the human the circumstances around her employment. She smiled when she thought about it… The story ran quickly through her head. My sire and I took up employment here after finding an advertisement attached to the bulletin board outside of an apartment where we stayed. My sire, yeah...he is the one who turned me into one of the undead, a vampire. We then came here to find employment, together yet separate. I have not seen him for a few weeks, as his sire, Trahir, has kind of taken over his roll. Cori smiled even wider and giggled a bit. She was sure that it seemed a bit odd to the man., her amusement… it would even be more odd if she divulged what she was to him.

Cori realized that she may come across as a tad bit crazy, smiling and giggling as if a school girl. She quickly composed herself and let her attention flow to where it was intended...HIM.

“ I have worked here only but a few weeks. I thoroughly enjoy my job..as much as can be expected, I suppose.” Cori moved a bit in her seat, sitting with her back flush against the chair, as opposed to moving closer to the human..which is what she had a desire to do. She surely did not want to scare him off… she was quite fond of him. The way he seemed to be a tad bit uncomfortable, only fueled Cori’s fire. Men usually ask mundane questions when they are uncomfortable… usually.

Cori reached her hands up to her head and untied the bun from her hair. Her blonde locks fell upon her shoulders with a slight bounce… Cori rarely let her hair down. She did not view it as practical…

“ We all have stressors in our lives, it is how we handle them that determines who we are. Dealing with stress makes one stronger...in turn prepares us for the next circumstance to come across our plate.” Cori was not one to offer advice, not at all. Why the hell was she giving a human advice, tonight? He complained of having a tough week and surely seemed to be out of sorts...maybe she just felt the urge to help him...maybe it was something else.

“Would you like to go for a walk? It is my break time and I would really like to get away from all this noise.”

Cori begins to laugh at me and I should be insulted but the truth is I'm kind of used to it. Though usually people have the good grace to attempt to laugh at me behind my back and not directly to my face. I don't realise that she's not laughing at me, but rather at whatever memory it is she's playing at the time. If I wanted to be ridiculed I'd go home and have Melete do it. If it's one thing I admire about that woman it's that she doesn't pull her punches. I'm sure she censors her words to some extent, we all do, but she says what's on her mind and she doesn't hide her agenda. Or perhaps I just see her agenda as it's similar to my own, minus the sexual appetite. That woman was relentless in her pursuits and while I admire that, she does make it incredibly difficult for me to keep her at arm’s length. She's a little too free with her body and has some serious commitment issues. I'm not really into that kind of relationship. I can barely function in a normal one. Though that didn't stop her from somehow overriding my common sense the other week, allowing her to get exactly what she wanted from me. This could be part of the reason I'm so stressed; I still don't know why I gave in that night. I was so sure I wouldn't do that. I haven't done it since.

I take a rather large gulp of my wine.

"I'm glad you enjoy your work," I say re-joining the conversation. "It's important to be happy with what you do in life. Oh and thank you for the pep talk. And the offer..."

My words trailed off as I try to figure out how best to answer her. I don't exactly want to be here, so leaving is definitely tempting, but the woman is obviously lying to me. She wasn't anywhere in sight when I came in, so she's either just come from her break or she was just clocking in. I'm not sure how I feel about her lying. Do I want to go for a walk with this woman?

I soon realise that the silence has gone on a little long. I may have been staring at her. She has a much softer appearance now with her hair down and I must confess that long, free flowing hair is much more appealing to me. Even at the grand old age twenty-seven, I still have no idea what my type is; though of late I'm beginning to suspect it might be bossy, independent women who flaunt their femininity.

"Are you sure you don't have to work?"

I ask the question, giving the woman a way to back out of her proposal while still saving face. Not that I need to, as I didn't talk her into leaving with me. She was offering. Women never offer themselves to me like this. I'm usually ignored. I start to wonder if perhaps whatever it was that was going on with me, might be causing a spike in my pheromones. I don't think it is, but still, there has to be a reason that women seem to be noticing me when before they wouldn't give me the time of day.

Cori stared at the male that sat across the table from her. the thoughts that ran through her head were a mingling of violence, blood and sex. She closed her eyes and thought of what this male called Elighan would taste like. Not just his blood, but the taste of his skin…Cori recalled how Trahir had tasted, how he had felt...she thought of how she had felt laying next to him the first night that they had shared one another. Like the thoughts in her head, her naked interactions with Trahir had been violent...she found that she enjoyed it, immensely.

Cori opened her eyes and thought that it had been silent for a bit too long.

Cori turned to the right and saw another of Lancasters employees come through the door. Fantastic, she thought! “My shift is almost over and my replacement is him.” Motioning to the male that just walked through the door. “I really could use a walk Elighan..and I suppose that you could as well?”

With that being said, Cori stood up from her chair and offered a hand to the male. She made a conscious effort to ensure that her facial features were soft… which was not always easy for Cori to do. She had rarely had to seduce a male to get their attention, let alone have them come on a walk with her...this one was proving to be a bit more difficult than she had expected.