Hiss, Rattle and Bite

Sunset on December 24th | Part 2

Grateful that she completed her last daylight task, Mari hurried to the nearby bus stop. Too far away to commute to her tiny apartment with it's empty refrigerator, she decided the Tex-Mex restaurant where her boyfriend worked as a sous-chef was close enough. Not wanting to lose an hour commuting from this end of town to her place in Graystone and then back again, Mari hoped Lewis would appreciate a surprise visit from her despite her disheveled appearance.

Unlike her, the public transportation in her small town was always on time. Resting her head against her overstretched arm, she held on tight to the rung above and grinded her teeth. The twenty minute bus ride felt longer and bumpier without a seat.

With her eyes closed, she wondered when her luck would turn around. She didn't own a cell phone, car, or house. At twenty-four years old, she never would have guessed that her life would be so unremarkable. Unconventional, true, but also filled with untapped potential and unrealized dreams. As a child, she wanted to be a journalist, lawyer, or judge. Mari once imagined she'd lend her voice to those who were disadvantaged. She wanted to be on the right side of justice, making a positive impact in people's lives.

Nowadays, she was a college dropout, estranged from her family, and busy running day errands for her vampire master. Somehow, she became one of those disadvantaged people. Living paycheck to paycheck, worrying if her bank card would be declined the next time she swiped it, and limiting her shopping sprees to the Five Dollars or Less store was exhausting and depressing.

The pre-recorded, matter of fact voice speaking through the bus's sound system heralded, "Arriving at Maple Street. Maple Street bus stop."

Mari blinked rapidly, irritated by the feeling that imagined sand kept her eyes from staying moist. Her empty hands felt as if she stubbornly carried four grocery bags up six flights of stairs in one trip. She needed sleep, relaxing and rejuvenating sleep. Working for her master all day and then wanting to socialize with supernatural beings all night left no time for sleeping, eating, or dating. Mari was lucky her boyfriend worked in the restaurant business and kept odd hours too.

Stepping off the bus and into the downtown area of Stone Throw, New Hampshire, Mari straightened her clothes and patted down her hair. Her white-tipped black hair remained in loose pigtails. There was nothing she could do to improve it without hair products, a mirror, and half an hour.

With their last two dates being cancelled, Mari was in desperate need of attention and affection. She wanted to toss aside her role as servant for a moment and simply feel special to someone, to her someone.

The alleyway for the restaurant never failed to be dimly lit or stink of rotten food. The wide, side door was meant for deliveries and moving equipment in and out. Mari usually stopped by around closing time and was greeted by one of Lewis's many colleagues on a smoke or phone break.

"Lewi, Lewi, Lewis! Your girl is here!" Emmanuel nobbed at her, announced her presence, and continued smoking his cigarette, all while pacing and talking on the phone.

More often than not, Mari was greeted by Lewis with a kiss at the door. He rarely took her inside. He said it was frowned upon, hectic, and too crowded to have non-culinary staff hanging out in the kitchen area. He'd hold her hand and they'd go for a long walk through the neighborhood. They conversed while making a twelve block loop that encompassed Main Street.

If the weather called for being indoors, as it did more often than not during the long, cold weather months in New Hampshire, he'd often slip off his chef's coat and walk into his restaurant through the front door. Like any other paying customers, they'd wait to be seated, order drinks and appetizers, and tip generously when done.