Blood Against Ivory

Red

Water stained acoustical tiles hung above us, as the fluorescent lights above made everyone's face paler than they already were. I sat alone on the hard sofa, one leg balanced over the other, with my sugary soda in hand. My other co-workers were hanging by the counter and sink, a little glint in their eyes as they told jokes, or how obnoxious their patients were today.

The white coats stay on, but the serious masks come off.

"So what's with this new monster program?" Dr. Arden had just come from his 2-week-vacation, and was unaware of the new development throughout the halls. His hands were shaky, fitting his turkey sandwich into his hungry mouth. "I've seen some werewolves walking around, and I'm pretty sure they're not patients."

"They're therapists, apparently. God, I hope they're at least medicated," Dr. Bahar grumbled under his breath. His wrinkling face was usually open around other co-workers, but mentioning the other species to him made him stiffen up.

"Agreed," Arden nodded, looking at his buddy in the eye. "I don't feel comfortable working when you've got monsters next door. Did you hear of the latest attack? I can't look a vampire straight in the eyes anymore."

"No, sphinxes," Bahar pressed. "They're soulless. Violence is just an afterthought."

I steadily got up from my seat, to get another soft drink from the humming machine. Dr. Arden's old eyes creaked over to me.

"Killian," He spoke, encouraging me to join the conversation. "How do you feel about the monsters? Should we complain to LR?"

I tested my answer a million times in my head before I spoke. Remain honest, but hold back your fire. "Living resources considered it a win," I shrugged my shoulders, plugging in my number. "There's nobody to complain to, Arden."

The doctor sneered at my response, but tried to mask it by burying his mouth deeper into his meal. Bahar glared at me for a second, scanning his enlarged pupils around me to put me in my place.

"You're that new guy, huh? The hematologist? You're awfully young," His voice was raspy probably from decades of smoking. I nodded my head, picking up my cherry cola from the basin.

"Must run into a lot of vampires, then," he continued. "How do you deal with that?"

I flicked open the can, and took a hearty sip. The older men awaited my response. I tried to drag out the silence while I still could. But I knew I'd have to respond to their subjective words eventually.

"I don't get many vampires," I replied simply, and glanced at my watch. I hated the break room. I would have gone to a food chain or something for lunch, but my skin always twitched when I was out in the sun for too long. I'd have to endure the montone talks of the holier-than-thou staff.

"He's not too chatty," Dr. Bahar mumbled back to his co-worker. Arden nodded, and went back to his grub.

Sugar gave me energy and made me jittery. I always have the biting urge to sleep though, as if I was deprived. It's oriented into my mind to be unconscious during the day. I tried to hide the rings under my eyes as best as I could, but I always knew they were as dark as bruises.

The heavy door to the break room opened with a shudder. A thin woman strolled in, her tinted eyes scanning the premise. When she landed on me, a small smirk spread across her shiny lips. I returned the gesture, though more subtly. Showing my teeth wasn't something I was comfortable with.

The men in the corner gave each other knowing glares as the woman came in. A gorgeous body with a stunning face, so young too, walking into the break room. But everyone knew her name.