Seeing Scarlett

SCARLETT

The next day, I grudgingly dragged myself out of bed earlier than I would have liked.

While the sun was draining my energy, I attempted to make myself look as human as possible with a dusting of peachy blush.

And by the time I arrived at the Coffee Stop at 4.55 p.m., Nick was already standing outside, waiting for me.

He wore a nicely fitting leather jacket over a black shirt and jeans, same as the last time I’d seen him. And the time before that.

Looks like I am not the only one with a uniform…

His eyes met mine as I approached. I imagined that if I were mortal, blood would be flushing my cheeks as he followed me with his gaze.

But I was immune to that silly, human symptom of discomfort. And at that moment, I was glad for it.

I stopped a few feet away from him and gave a slight wave.

“You are early,” I said.

He eyed the sun in the sky, hanging above the horizon. “So are you.”

“Am I allowed to know where we are going?”

“Well…no harm in telling you now, I suppose,” he said. “I was thinking we could take a walk through the park. There’s a nice little pub on the other side near the river.”

“Perfect,” I said. “Lead the way.”

As we started in the direction of the park, I made sure to keep pace with him at all times.

I needed to keep clear sight of him in my periphery in case this outing turned violent.

We walked in a listless silence for a few minutes, but I refused to be the one to break it. Finally, he caved in.

“So…how was your day?”

“Busy,” I lied. I had woken up just thirty minutes before our date.

“And you?”

“Research, research, and more research,” he said, and the silence returned.

More research on how to kill my kind, Nick?

The entrance to the park had a very steep slope that led to the main path.

To my surprise, Nick offered his arm to help me down the hill. I didn’t need it, but I took it anyway.

Luckily, I had thought to wear gloves thick enough that he couldn’t feel the temperature of my skin.

When we reached the path, he veered right, eventually coming to a stop in front of an ornate iron gate that encircled a private garden.

I peered between the bars and immediately understood what this was.

A cemetery.

There was no question. The unmistakable chill washed over me…the one I felt every time Lillian moved through our flat.

So this wasn’t just a date.

It is a test.

I’m sure of it now.

Looking up at Nick, I saw that he was watching me with a strange intensity, studying my expression.

Of course, no vampires should be able to enter this area.

But I was the exception to that rule, too…yet another seemingly unexplainable power of mine—like my ability to see ghosts and my resistance to sunlight.

Mustering the best of my acting abilities, I said, “What? Do I have something on my face?”

And then I pushed open the gate and took a confident step inside.

He blinked and followed in after me. “What—? No,” he stammered, “your face is—good.”

“Huh, well, your face is pretty ‘good,’ too.” I said flirtatiously.

As our walk continued, I took in my surroundings.

Each gravestone looked more worn than the last, and many were fully covered over by the unkempt grass.

These lives had been lost long ago; these souls had passed on.

“So…is this where you bring all your first dates?” I asked him.

“No,” he said curtly, quickening his stride.

“This may sound weird,” I whispered as we emerged on the riverbank through the gate on the other side, “but I actually love cemeteries.”

As I said that, I saw a hint of confusion take root in his brow.

If he was going to give me a test, I would pass with flying colours.

NICK

That vile vampire Oscar is continuing to waste my time, even from the grave.

I wish I could kill him again.

Scarlett had walked through the cemetery without any issue. And the sun had still been in the sky when we’d met for our “date.”

She couldn’t possibly be a vampire.

…Right?

Somehow, despite the evidence, I still had my doubts.

She did have the classic vampire porcelain skin—practically translucent. And it wasn’t exactly cold enough for her to be wearing those gloves.

What if those gloves are meant to keep me from feeling the chill of her skin?

By the time we reached the pub, my mind was spinning out of control.

I wasn’t sure what I believed, but I wouldn’t rest until I was one hundred percent sure that she was human.

I was willing to follow any lead that could possibly help me find Darren.

When we had been seated, the waiter came by to take our orders.

“Can I get something started for you two?” he asked.

“I’ll get the steak. Extra rare,” I said.

I’ll see how different she acts when there is blood on the table.

“And you?” the waiter asked, turning to Scarlett.

“Pasta aglio e olio,” she said in a perfect Italian accent.

Garlic pasta.

She must be taunting me on purpose.

Or I’m really just wasting my time.

The waiter disappeared, and Scarlett and I were left alone again.

“This is a nice place,” Scarlett said. “Do you come here a lot?”

If I wanted her to open up to me, I would have to reveal a few things about myself. “I grew up coming here,” I said. “My mum was the manager before she retired.”

“Oh, nice,” Scarlett said. “So you’re from around here?”

“Born and raised,” I said. “But I’ve been gone for a few years. I just got back.”

“Why?”

“Family stuff.”

She nodded in understanding, but there was something false about her empathy.

“What about you?” I asked. “Where’s home for you?”

I watched as she shifted uncomfortably under the weight of this question.

But I wasn’t going to let up.

Not until I got the answers I was looking for.

SCARLETT

Where’s home for me?

Tough question, Nick.

Kettering in Northamptonshire was my rehearsed answer, but if he tried to press me on details of the place, I wouldn’t have much to offer.

So instead, I just decided to keep it vague. And relatively honest.

“All over. I moved around a lot when I was a kid.”

“And where are your parents now?” he asked me.

“Dead,” I said.

“Oh—” His mouth hung open, shocked at my bluntness. “I’m sorry.”

A couple of silent minutes later, the waiter returned with our orders, placing them down on the table.

As I stared at the bleeding steak in front of him, I didn’t even have to fake my disgust.

In my young vampire days, that would have tempted me. But with age, I had developed a taste for the finer things.

I could only stomach the blood of a living, breathing human.

“I am definitely glad I went with the pasta,” I said. “If you like that, then good for you, but…” I grinned.

“I have unusual taste in food,” he said a little stiffly.

My smile widened. “Clearly.”

I dipped my garlic bread into the pasta sauce and chewed it quite deliberately, making sounds to indicate that I was enjoying it.

But I was getting bored with pretending.

I didn’t want to beat around the bush any longer.

“So, Nick,” I said finally, pushing my plate away from me. “Did I pass your test?”

Slowly he straightened up in his chair, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

His voice was overly casual when he finally answered. “What test?”

“You invited me to an early dinner. The real goal was getting me outside in the daylight, right?”

I continued, “On the way here we walked through that very charming cemetery. And then there’s that disgusting dish that you ordered. Did I miss anything?”

His eyes flickered as he tried to figure out his next move.

With a sigh, I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs.

“I noticed the book you were reading in the diner. ‘Vampires and the Supernatural,’ right? Do you think that I am…a vampire?”

“I’m not sure what I think of you anymore,” he said, and he sounded honest. “You’re like no other vampire I’ve met.”

I flinched as he suddenly grabbed his phone. He pulled up a picture and showed it to me.

“This is my little brother Darren,” he said. “He’s been missing for a week. Do you recognise him?”

I eyed the picture closely.

With his tan skin and dirty blond hair, I never would have guessed that the boy on the screen was related to Nick.

“I don’t recognise him,” I concluded. “Why do you think bloodsuckers have something to do with it?”

“Because Darren’s a vampire hunter. We both are.”

I could feel the hair on my arms and the back of my neck stand to attention.

It’s true.

Nick really is a vampire hunter.

Which means that if he knew my true identity, he would try to kill me on the spot.

And I’d have to kill him first.

“I’m sorry about your brother,” I said. “But I had nothing to do with it.”

“Then why did a vampire give me your name?”

“A vampire? Really?” I said with mock incredulity. “Tell me the name. Maybe it’s an ex-boyfriend or something.”

“I don’t like to speak ill of the dead.”

Whoa.

This guy is not messing around.

Not if he can commit murder and then make a joke of it.

“Sorry for wasting your time,” Nick said gruffly, starting to rise from his chair.

But I extended my leg and pinned his foot to the ground under the table with my own.

He instinctively reached his hand towards his pocket.

Is that a stake or is he just excited to see me…?

“Don’t go,” I said. “If you tell me, I will help you find your brother, OK?”

He eyed me warily.

I doubted that I could earn his trust so easily.

But I could also sense a deep desperation.

He needed to find his brother.

At any cost.

“Why would you do that? What’s in it for you?”

“My anonymity is my number one priority. I would do anything to protect it. Just like you would do anything for Darren.”

There we go.

I could see by the look in his eye that I had convinced him.

“The vampire’s name was Oscar,” he said.

Oh no.

Oscar?!

That’s Rowland’s right-hand man…

And if the biggest coven leader in the region is coming after me, then this vampire hunter and his missing brother are the least of my concerns.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said, trying to regain my composure.

“Now you have to tell me something,” he said. “What the hell are you?”

“I’m a waitress.”

“With supernatural enemies? Come on, Scarlett. I thought you said we were going to work together.”

“Fine,” I said, and before I could stop myself, I added, “I’m a witch.”