Coffee & Blood

Chapter Five: A Proposition

"I can't give you something I've never had." I lean back in slight shock. "And why would I give you something just so you can leave."

"If love is so great it might make me want to stay," he shrugs.

I bite my lip. I can't make him love me, I don't even know how to love a person outside of my own family. This is the first date I've ever even been on, I've never even been in a talking stage with anyone. A 16-year-old probably knows more about love than I do. Even if I do make him love me, I'm dying, it would be cruel to do something like that to him. I could tell him I'm dying and that his plan wouldn't work but wouldn't that change the way he acts around me too.

"I..." I stutter over my words. I stare at my hands as I pick nervously at my nails. "I don't know how to love you, Rael. I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"I...won't be here for long." I whisper.

"I'm not asking for forever," Rael's cold fingers grazes my chin, making me lift my eyes to match his. His expression is gentle as he looks into my eyes melting away some of my anxieties. "I'm only asking for right now. You've already asked me to be lonely with you, why not just go the whole way. Let's make a deal, you show me how to love and I'll help you experience life the way you imagined."

"I don't know."

"Let's think logically Aniyah, you won't ever be able to afford all the things you want to do on a baristas salary. It'll take you years to do everything you want to and you don't have years do you."

"What?" His words send a bolt of shock through my body and I lurch back from his touch. "How...what-"

"You're dying Aniyah, I know that. I can see it in your eyes, in your movements, in your mind."

"I-I think I'm going to leave now." I go to move but my body remains glued to the seat. My heart begins to beat wildly against my ribs as I repeatedly try to get my body to cooperate with me. Fear settles into my mind as I look at the man sitting before me. I knew there was something off about him, the way his gaze felt so heavy, the way his presence seemed to overwhelm me. My instincts knew when I referred to him as a something, but I was so desperate for another distraction that I ignored them. I was so desperate for a thrill that I've gotten myself trapped at a table with a damn devil.

"A devil is harsh Aniyah." He chuckles.

"Get out of my head." I hiss. "I want to go home."

"Our dinner isn't even here yet." He puts on a lazy smile and leans back in his chair. "I am not going to hurt you, that is the last thing on my mind. Some people do refer to me as a demon of sorts, others see me as an angel, the difference is only a short fall."

"What do you want from me?"

"When I originally entered that coffee shop I was simply going to feed off of you a little then wipe you're memory of me but then I realized you didn't have very long left in this life and I felt jealous. You were given the gift of death while I have to walk this world for centuries. I wanted that, I begged for it and here you are wanting to avoid it like every other human."

"So, you're a suicidal vampire thing, what does that have to do with me," I ask. An anger begins to boil inside of me as I continuously struggle to gain control of my body.

"You started talking and suddenly my jealousy turned to curiosity, I wanted to see the world the way you did. How vibrant must the colors of life be to make you want to avoid losing them. I want you to show me what makes you love life so intensely and in return I will help you achieve your goals before your death."