Hiss, Rattle and Bite

Sunset on December 24th | Part 4

"Hi," Mari said, approaching the bar with an empty glass in hand.

His smile brightened when his eyes landed on her. He muttered, "I knew this place was worth getting into."

Mari leaned in. "What was that?"

"Uh, my bad. I'm Dex. And you?"

"Mari. Is this your first time here?"

"Yeah, I've been trying to get in for months now. Lucked out tonight," Dex said.

Mari smiled. "So I'm talking to a lucky and handsome man? Cool."

He rubbed his face, covering his cheeks, mustache, and beard for a moment. She guessed he tried to hide his blushing cheeks.

"Ready to laugh?" he asked after another silent moment passed between them.

"I'm out of luck, actually. Sold out show," Mari said with a pout and a shrug.

"Oh, damn. I don't have pre-ordered tickets either." Dex confirmed what she suspected.

They shook their heads at each other. She chewed on an ice cube while Dex finished his drink. The bar emptied out as large doors opened to let customers with tickets settle into their purchased seats. Through the open doors they saw round tables covered in burgundy tablecloths form a semi-circle around a raised stage. The walls, floors and stage were all black. The stage's backdrop curtain showcased the comedy club's logo that read: Die Laughing.

"Do you—" Dex loosened the collar of his shirt. "Do you want to have a drink with me?"

Marigold smiled, baring her teeth.

"I have a better idea. Come on!" She placed her empty glass onto the bar and reached for Dex's hand. "I know where we can still see the show." Her words ended in a whisper as she looked around, afraid she might have been overheard.

Dex let her take his hand and pull him along. They left the room a different way then they entered. Between the dark walls, dim lights, and faint echoes of laughter, she tried to get him to lose track of where they were. One empty hallway led to another. Then they stopped in front of an ornate red door. It was tall, wide, and glossy with some sort of textured pattern on it. Mari opened the door. No light emanated from the room. Instead, a cold draft blew their way.

Dex appeared hesitant despite the two drinks he consumed recently.

"Look, you're hot and all, but I don't know about this," he said.

She pulled him closer to her and he got a whiff of her light, femine fragrance.

"I just want to have a good time, Dex. Don't you want to have a good time with me?"

Dex nodded and allowed himself to be tugged into the room by his alluring companion. The door's understated design was that of a snake pit with countless snakes slithering on top of each other. Before Dex could voice another word of doubt, the door slammed shut behind them. An ominous click suggested that they were locked in.

He switched from passively being pulled along to gripping Mari's hand tightly. They stood huddled together.

"You okay, Mari?"

"Yeah. I'm okay."

"Do you see a light switch, or lamp, or anything?" Dex started patting his pants pockets. "Let me find my cell phone. It should be here."

Mari turned her head until her broad nose brushed his chin. Then her full lips found his neck. She sighed, longingly.

Misunderstanding Mari's motives, Dex held her tighter. "It's okay. My phone will light up and we'll get out of here. I'll call for help if we need it. I got you."

No, he didn't. She had him exactly where she wanted him. Mari gave his exposed neck a quick lick before slipping out of his embrace. She stood still, closed her eyes and relished his slightly salty, masculine taste on her tongue. If only she had fangs and claws sharp enough to pierce and slice flesh with ease. If only Dex's blood could satiate Mari so that she could leave the world of peanut butter on toast, ramen noodles, and value menu fast food behind.

"Mari?" Dex called out, squinting in the dark.

She took one step back after another until she reached the far right corner of the room. With a cushioned stool waiting for her, she settled into her first row seat to tonight's feeding. Thanks to a spell she cast when she first became a servant, Mari had excellent night vision for a human. She watched Dex dig into his pants pockets, searching for the cell phone that she held in her left hand. There wasn't going to be a call for help tonight—not one that anyone outside of this former dressing room would ever hear.

"Mari?" he whispered.

She shook her head, knowing that he'd never know she spared a moment to pity him.

Dex and Mari stilled at the slight disturbance in the air. The two humans innately recognized that they were no longer safe. Black, red, and silver fog swept in and formed a cloud in the center of the room. Mari blinked and he appeared.

Rhett materialized in the room, causing the air to chill. The dark cloud dissipated as Rhett's physical form solidified. He was tall, with broad shoulders and lean muscles. With excellent posture and eighteenth century men's clothes, Rhett looked out of time and place.

Other than his dramatic entrance, two things revealed his inhuman nature. Rhett's eyes appeared to be completely black. Among the creatures of the night, vampires had night vision rivaling that of owls and ocelots. The second telltale feature was Rhett's skin. It was not warm, soft, elastic, or covered in hair. The skin of vampires that did not feed regularly was that of a marble statue: smooth, cold, and hardened. To be touched by something nearly inanimate that steals your body heat...

"Mari!" Dex called out in a tone no longer reassuring or concerned. He was straight up scared.

She remained silent.

Rhett chuckled.

Unable to deny a third presence in the room, Dex shouted, "What the f—"

"You've been such a gentleman up until this point, my good man. Keep your composure," Rhett replied.

Dex lost his cool and screamed.

——— ✨📚✨———

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