Blood Moon

The Chef

(I know I chose a picture with both of them. This is Charlie's POV. Artwork by AemAsea...I think it is really cute...)

Alastor began to walk toward us, then past us, to the dilapidated building that served as a hospital.

"I am sure you will love my mother's recipe. The kick nearly killed her!"

He laughed in a sick manner as he excitedly led the way. Motioning a hand for us to follow, he made eye contact with me for longer than usual.

I couldn't figure out why, but he seemed...familiar.

Maybe he had been at one of the many business meetings my father held. I was forced to attend them when I was younger and I met several important people.

Yeah, that was it. A long time ago, I must have seen him in a meeting.

Vaggie nudged me back to Earth, with a small frown on her tanned face.

"Hey, you've been really spacey today. Maybe you should go to bed early," she suggested.

"I...I'll stay up for dinner, then hit the hay. I'm curious about the jambalaya."

I smiled hopefully, then turned and walked with her at my side loyally.

Vaggie was always there for me, no matter what. I could trust her with anything.

So why did I feel so hesitant to tell her of the dreams?

I shook my thoughts away as we neared the door. They didn't mean anything important. Nothing.

"Sorry buddy, but it's my job to cook 'ere!"

"I didn't say you needed to give up that title. You may help, if you wish."

I groaned. They hadn't even been in the same room for fifteen minutes and they were already arguing.

As a doctor, I am highly impatient.

"Anthony, please just let him cook." I began to slip off my heels and instantly sighed in comfort. I rarely wore dress shoes, but when I did, it was a pain in the you-know-what.

I heard the pink dressed vampire grumble under his breath as he stepped aside for Alastor. Alastor dipped his head in approval then began to speed around the kitchen at superhuman speed, grabbing ingredients and utensils.

"I prefer to do my cooking with a bit of flair," he said to no one in particular, "a show for my audience. Please prepare yourselves for a spectacle unlike any other!"

He pulled out a large knife and began to chop several ingredients. We all watched in curiosity through the window.

As he chopped, Alastor looked out to us without a single sign of fear. The blade whizzed through vegetables and meats with satisfying crunches.

Again, me and the red-themed man made eye contact.

His eyes were hypnotizing...colors swirled within them like a churning sea as I was pulled into his gaze...

I blinked and looked down, halting the illusion.

When I had the courage to face him again, he was still looking at me.

His smile seemed a bit more flat, only slightly. Maybe I had disappointed him by not showing approval like the others; of whom were cheering.

"Go, strawberry, go!" Anthony yelled with his fist in the air as Alastor quickly shuffled chopped bits on his wooden cutting board.

Then I noticed that we hadn't had any of those utensils or ingredients before he arrived; they appeared out of thin air.

Vaggie was even smiling at the display, but she caught me looking and she frowned again.

Alastor turned his cutting board up just enough to show the vegetables and meat in a familiar pattern.

"Anyone want to take a guess as to who this may be?"

"OOH! OOH! It's Miss Charlotte!"

Nifty practically burst in excitement, but I stared at the floor.

"That's correct! Miss Charlotte..?"

I slowly looked up to the alleged picture of me. It showed a woman with short yellow hair (made of yellow peppers) and pale white skin (onions) in a intricate colorful ball dress.

"What do you think? Did my eyes serve me well?"

I nodded, still in awe.

"Excellent! Now, to cook our jambalaya, I would like a volunteer. Anyone willing?"

Anthony raised his hand, but Alastor ignored him. He was staring at me.

"Bitch, I have my hand up!"

"Anyone? Anyone at all?"

"Are ya blind? I got my hand up!"

With a sigh, I raised my hand.

"Ah, Charlie! Thank you, darling. Come here," he said with a hand out to me. I hesitated, thought of going back to my seat, but I was already being gently led to the stove.

The way the kitchen was set, the window didn't provide a look onto the stove top. Meaning I was alone with him near the hot surface.

With his long arms, he grabbed the board from the counter and stood behind me. He stood inches above me.

I paused to glance at him.

His smile wasn't the twisted one he'd arrived with, but a friendly and caring grin. His eyes were still on me in that strange way.

"Now, we must cook our ingredients," Alastor said as he pulled out a pan from behind him. He also gently placed a wooden spoon in my hand and wrapped his fingers between mine.

Guiding me, he helped me move the vegetables and meat to the pan and stirred with me.

I could feel my face was just as hot as the burner.

My mind was screaming to run, to get away from the vampire, but my legs stood stiff. I questioned myself and asked why in the world he would do this.

Somehow, this felt familiar as well...

Don't be silly, I told myself. You've never cooked jambalaya before. There's no way-

My thoughts were cut short by him lightly placing a hand on my waist.

That was it.

My legs were still frozen, as well as my voice. Why was I allowing him to take these advances? I'd met him just that day! This was nowhere near appropriate!

Yet I still stood silent.

Thankfully, he made no other moves. He remained quiet, but his silence seemed to drown out the sizzling of food.

How was this food not done yet? It seemed like it was taking eternity...

His thumb rubbed my side and the small of my back; I felt a chill run through my spine.

"I believe it is ready. Thank you for your help, sweetheart." Alastor left and returned with bowls for each of us.

I moved away as he spooned hefty portions into each bowl; he handed me mine first. "Helpers always get served first," he chuckled as he winked at me.

I walked to the table. My face was still red, I was sure of it.

(Hello everyone! I'm sorry for not updating (again) but I just moved into a new house! Yaaaaay! My wifi was being weird so I wasn't able to write for a while. But here it is! Alastor is starting to make some moves...(insert winking face). I promise there will be much more to come for both Charlastor and SpiderMoth. As always, please go and check out Fantasyandromance for some awesome stories! For now...S̴̫͐̃̅t̷̗͌ą̸͚́y̵͖͕̎͠ ̵̜̺̤̫͖̇̉t̸̳̿̐̿ų̶͕̙̻̾̿͜͠n̶̤̥̮̬̘̑̈́ę̷̓͆̀͋̔ḑ̷͉̤͎̽̅́.̷̢̣̈̑͠.̷͈̤̩̈́͗̓.̷̗̞͔̓̇͝ͅ)