Played or Fated

"See y'all in a week," I waved goodbye to my boss, Ray, and the cook, Boomer. I exited the back door of Ray's diner and quickly made my way to my baby blue Chevy Impala. I was exhausted after working eight hours on the floor by myself. Two servers called off on the day of a sold-out concert that was being held nearby. My feet ached and my back was on fire from carrying multiple trays. All I wanted to do now was lay up in a warm bath with a full wine glass.

My cell phone rang in my bag. Retrieving it, my girl Mia was calling. She was my closest friend and coworker. She also didn't tell me that she was going to be one of the servers calling off for work today.

"Hello," I answered dryly.

"I know you're mad at me for ditching work and not sayin' shit, but I had a good reason." She said immediately.

"I'm listening." I unlocked the door to my baby blue Chevy Impala and slid into the driver's seat, dropping my workbag in the passenger seat

She took a deep breath and announced, "I'm in Crimson Grove."

I paused at Mia's response. "Come again?" Crimson Grove was a shunned community within Cadillac Heights. Most residents avoided the area due to rumors of supernatural beings living there. What kind? Nobody knew for real. Law enforcement has stopped entering Crimson Grove due to a large number of losses.

"I know it sounds crazy but you remember the guy I told you about last week that left me in a puddle because of the tone of voice. Well, we hooked up and now I'm in Crimson Grove."

Last week, I found Mia in the women's bathroom flushed as if she had the best makeout session of her life, and she went on to tell me about an attractive guy sitting in her section whose voice was an audiobook girlie's dream. When I went to see who she was referring to, I had to admit, he was fine.

"I told him about you, and he has a friend." She sang. "He's fine and rich too. You know I wouldn't set you up with a dusty."

"Not interested." I shot down quickly. I was not in the market for a boyfriend. The last one I had was a huge disappointment.

"Are you serious, Serenity? Since you broke up with Carlos you've only been focused on only work. Come have some fun for once."

I heard what she was saying but I wasn't in the mood to entertain a man, especially after working an 8-hour shift. "My fun is coming up in exactly three days when I hop on a flight and take my butt to Jamaica and being catered to."

"Girl them Jamaican men ain't got nothing on the men in Crimson Grove I can tell you that." She boasted and giggled. "Listen, I'ma drop the addy' and you decide if you want to come or not, alright but I'm telling you, it will be worth it."

"Alright," I answered.

"See you soon." She said and then hung up.

A few moments later, my phone pinged with a text message from Mia. She dropped her location along with a picture of her and the guy she was crushing hard on. Fear spiked within me as my eyes scanned over the dark-skinned man with short curly hair rich, crimson-colored eyes, and sharp canines towering behind Mia with his arms wrapped around her.

Immediately, I called Mia back but she didn't answer.

"This is not the time for games, Mia." This crazy girl was out here hanging with vampires. I scanned the picture again searching for a bite mark but didn't see one.

Had she already been bitten and it healed?

My cellphone started pinged with a series of messages from Mia.

MIA: I am safe. Stop tripping cuz' I know you are.

MIA: Don't be afraid of Eric. He's a gentleman.

MIA: Come to Crimson Grove, Serenity. His friend Damian is waiting for you.

She sent another picture and my breath caught in my chest when I laid my eyes on one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. Mia's friend was fine but this man was here, ethereal. Skin as the color of night, a strap jawline, ocean blue colored eyes and long locs that passed his shoulders. He didn't showcase his fangs like Eric but I knew they were there. I stared at his photo for so long, I didn't see Boomer walk up to the driver's side of my car.

"Whatchu' still doing out here? It's late." Boomer said, making me jump out of my skin.

Rolling down my window, "I was talking to Mia. I'm bout to go meet up with her." I couldn't tell him I was going to Crimson Grove. He would yank me out of my car.

"Well, tell her if she misses another shift. Ray firing her ass."

"Will do."

"Get out of here. Don't need you coming up missing."

Boomer waited until I pulled off to go back inside. The ride on Larned St, was quiet as I tackled the idea of actually going to Crimson Grove.

Mia's location was only a fifteen-minute drive.

At the intersection, I could go right and head home - but turning left would take me to Crimson Grove - to Damian. His face floods my mind as I sit idle at the intersection, peering left and right. I didn't know this man from a can of paint and he was a vampire but the urge to be near him was becoming stronger by the second.

"Come to me."

"Damian?" A smile spread across my face. I never heard his voice a day in my life but something within told me it was him.

"Come to me." He repeated.

A feeling of acceptance washed over me and I turned left on Shadow Road and headed to Crimson Grove. I arrived at the location Mia pinged me a little after 4 AM. It was a large modern-day colonial mansion just north of the border of Crimson Grove and Cadillac Heights.

I called Mia again. This time she answered.

"You're here." She squealed.

Seconds later, a dark figure dressed in all black appeared at the driver's side. A feeling of familiarity overwhelmed me as I stared into the ocean-blue eyes that stared back at me.

"Unlock the door." He commanded and absentmindedly, I did as he said.

He extended his hand out to me and I took it. Embarrassment came over me when I realized I was still in my server uniform and he was dripped in a thousand-dollar suit.

"Don't be embarrassed." He said as if he could read my thoughts. "You are beautiful no matter what you wear. Come let's go to the others."

We find Mia and Eric sitting in a large room. Amongst them are other vampires. They watched me closely as we entered the room. Mia got up from her seat - on Eric's lap and embraced me in a tight hug.

"I knew Damian would get you out here." She cheesed.

"Mia, what the fuck is going on?"

"Don't fight it, Serenity." She said as Eric approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her. "I find the person I'm going to spend the rest of my life with and you did too."

I turned and faced Damian and before I could get my next word out, I felt a sharp pain on the right side of my neck and then my world went dark.