All’s Fair in Love and Vampires
Kit Campbell
Even chocolate started to taste bad after the third bar. Sophia forced herself to swallow the last of it anyway, said, “Right,” and went out into the dark streets.
The chill seeped through her coat as she kept to lonely alleyways and forgotten corners. “C’mon,” she murmured. “I didn’t make myself sick for nothing.”
“You smell divine,” purred a voice from behind her. “I do so miss being able to taste food—especially chocolate.”
Finally. Sophia reached under her coat, then froze as she sensed movement off to her left.
“What’s a sweet thing like you doing in a place like this?” said a second voice, then laughed.
Ugh, even the undead were crap at pick-up lines.
So, for future note, three bars were too many. Sophia tightened her grip on her stake—her only stake.
“Back off,” said the first one. “I smelled her first.”
“Come on, bro,” said the second. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to share?”
Well, served her right for being unprepared, but she’d be damned if she didn’t go down fighting.
Sophia spun, pulling the stake out as she went. She lunged at the first vampire, who hissed and danced out of her reach.
She cursed under her breath. She was out of her element—normally she waited until they were on top of her before she struck. But with two—
“Not cool, dude,” said the second one. “That’s not playing nice.” His voice sounded closer, but Sophia couldn’t pick him out among the shadows.
Breath on her neck. She struck out with the stake, hit something. But nothing vital. The first one retreated a few feet, just out of reach.
They were both close now. Sophia took a deep breath, trying to watch both at once and fight down the panic that was starting to well up.
“That’s it, love,” whispered the first one. “This won’t hurt too much.”
Sophia took a step back, tightening her grip. Which one?
The second one lunged, making her choice for her. Sophia dodged out of long practice and plunged her stake in.
Success! The vampire turned to dust in front of her. She pulled her stake free and turned, praying she wasn’t too slow.
The first vampire was gone.
Sophia waited, stake at the ready, but the night remained silent.
Cursing, she retreated to brighter, more populated climes. She’d never had one get away before. Did he realize her chocolate trick? How long until they all knew and she had to change tactics?
As she tucked her stake back in her jacket, she pondered whether vampires liked the smell of coffee.