An Unexpected Dinner Companion

Adelaide met resistance when she pushed the restaurant door. Her body unexpectedly fell forward, her shoulder smashing into the glass and thankfully, barely saving her face from hitting it as well. There, a mere inch or two from her eyes on the glass were white letters that read “Pull.”

Yeah, that seems about right. She rolled her eyes at herself, took a deep breath and pulled the door open. The inside of the restaurant was not what she had expected. For starters it was cold. Unbelievably cold. It was as if she had stepped into a refrigerator, or a cave. The thought stopped her in her tracks. As she glanced around the restaurant, she noticed that the walls were made of rock. A waving, undulating surface akin to that of the inside of a cave. Stalactites hung from the ceiling dripping liquid into puddles along the ground. Stalagmites poked up near the puddles. One such large specimen stood in front of her and served as a podium behind which the host stood. 

The host was lanky and pale. He wore a pitch-black suit and his dark hair was greased back. He had one earring hanging from his left ear with a dangly red gem of some sort on a chain. With a deep growl of a voice, heavy with vocal fry the man spoke to her. “Reservation, madam?” He stared into her as one corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk at the end.

What the fuck… “Um. One second.” Adelaide reached into her clutch and pulled out her phone. She opened the dating app and reread the last message from Dave.

“I’ll make reservations at The Grotto for Saturday at 8. Look forward to finally meeting you in person!”

The Grotto. Well, she supposed she was at least in the right place. The literal theming of the restaurant was certainly not to her taste. It reminded her of a rainforest café or something, but shockingly even more unpleasant. She put away her phone and hugged her arms close to her to fend off another chill that wafted through the restaurant. “Yes” she said to the host, “party of two. I believe it’s under Dave.”

“Ah yes, here it is. Follow me please.” He led her through the dark and cold eatery. She could hear the sounds of clinking glasses, quiet conversations and the incessant dripping from the ceiling. Atonal orchestral music echoed quietly across the rocks. Adelaide almost wanted to leave. Almost. Something about this place didn’t feel right. She felt like the chills she was getting were from more than just the brisk air. She thought back on the conversations with Dave as she weaved her way through the labyrinth of stalagmites and tables.

Adelaide had been talking with Dave for about two weeks now. She would have met him sooner but they both seemed to have such busy schedules. He seemed to always be working nights, and that caused issues with her 9-5 schedule. Their conversations were effortless, however. They covered all the normal topics a newly forming relationship covers. Their interests, their politics, their hobbies, their hopes and dreams, etc. She did find it odd how vague he was about his job. He basically only said that he worked nights, and that he didn’t get out much during the day. Whenever she attempted to pry further into it, he would skirt the subject with relative ease. His casual charm and cutting wit always seemed to soothe whatever doubts fluttered into her mind.

The host approached an opening in the cave-like wall that was covered by a billowy red curtain. The curtain looked heavy, like the ones that draw back before a Broadway show. The man pulled a thick golden rope and the curtain slid open. “Right this way madam. Our most exclusive private room has been reserved for your party this evening.” He smirked again; she didn’t like that smirk.

Adelaide hesitated. This was not her idea of a first date with someone you were just meeting. This felt more like a ten-year wedding anniversary…with a wall street exec. She turned her head to look around through the main room. Everyone was staring at her. She quickly turned her head back towards the host and then instantly did a double take to make sure she wasn’t crazy. Now all the patrons in the restaurant were minding their own business. They talked and laughed and drank their cocktails. Did she imagine that? She must have. She was clearly getting anxious about this date. Adelaide took a deep breath and laughed to her herself. There was nothing to worry about. Dave seemed like a great guy, and even if he was a creep she was in a public restaurant. Everything was going to be great.

She passed the host into the private room. In it was one table, beautifully laid out with a white tablecloth and gold silverware. A bouquet of flowers, not too big but beautifully arranged sat in a vase in the center of the table. Two blood red cocktails waited patiently for her, and across from them sat Dave. He looked exactly like his photo. He had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. His facial symmetry was superb. He stood up and walked over towards her. He pulled her chair back and gestured for her to sit. She sat down and he slid her chair in towards the table. 

As he made his way back to the table, she looked closer at the cocktail. The martini glass was filled with a dark red liquid. It appeared thick and viscous. She had no idea what he had ordered for her, but it certainly wasn’t the old fashioned she would have gone for.

Dave sat down and peered at her. His gaze was intense. He was reading her, appraising her. Finally, he chuckled a bit. His lips peeled back in a smile revealing his teeth. He had fangs.

.   .   .

Hours earlier Dave was straightening his tie in the mirror, his mothers voice wafting from the speaker phone across the room. “Don’t be so picky this time. You need to find a nice girl to turn, and soon.”

He didn’t audibly reply to her, simply nodded, eyes rolling. Dave knew that time was running short. He needed to find a girl he liked and turn her before his 30^th birthday. He was as well versed in the ways of vampirism as anyone else, he just couldn’t accept his first time not being perfect. 

              After a string of terrible dates, and a few that got away, Dave knew that Adelaide was something special. Her pictures were incredible. Unless he was being catfished she was just his type. She had long dark hair, green eyes and the most adorable nose. Their conversations on the phone had stunned him. Her voice was comforting and alluring at the same time. They had similar interests and never seemed to find a lull in their conversations.

              Dave’s mom pressed on, unfettered by his lack of response. “The Grotto has the room arranged for you right?”

              “Yes, the reservation is for eight. Everything is fine. Look Mom I’ve gotta get going. I love you, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow to let you know how it went.”

              Arriving at The Grotto Dave felt like a celebrity, this was his first time bringing anyone to the room. Community members congratulated him as he made his way across the dining hall. When he arrived at the table, he found the blood cocktails waiting for him. He sat down and nervously fiddled with his watch. Looking at it, adjusting it, picking at the leather band.

              After five or so minutes of torture she walked through the curtain. He helped with her chair and sat back down. She was gorgeous. Her red dress flowed around her like a mountain stream. Her smell was intoxicating. She was even better looking in person than he could have imagined. He smiled and laughed a bit in his excitement. He could tell that she saw his teeth. He knew that this part was inevitable, but he worried that it was too soon. He feared what her reaction would be.

              “Hello Adelaide, its nice to finally meet you.” Dave looked at her and smiled. A friendly smile, with no teeth. She looked unsure; he could see the gears in her head turning.

              “It’s nice to meet you too Dave, you’re just as handsome as your pictures.” She replied with a polite tone. Dave was about to respond when she began to speak again, a different tone in her voice, a more casual and personal tone that didn’t usually come out until twenty minutes or so into their phone conversations. “Okay. Wait. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude here, but something is off. This place for starters. I mean, where even are we!?” She laughed.

              Dave smirked at her and opened his mouth to speak but she continued.

              “Also, I am fairly certain everyone was looking at me back there.” She gestured with her thumb over her shoulder. “And now your teeth.” She trailed off on the word “teeth.”

              Dave had thought about how to approach this moment. He had hoped that she would have imbibed some of the blood cocktail by now. The effects of drinking vampire blood will often lull a human. Their minds will be more open to possibilities previously thought outlandish. Now however, he would have to form his words carefully.

              “Listen Adelaide, I ha-”

              “Are you a vampire!?” She leaned forward on her elbows as she said this.

              Dave was taken aback. This was certainly unexpected. 

              “Oh my god. This is blood isn’t it!?” She sounded almost excited as she picked up the glass and held it to her face, swirling its dark contents in the light of the dim table lamp. She set it down and looked up at him expectantly.

              “Well, yes. It is blood. And I am a Vampire.” Dave said.

              Adelaide beamed. She began laughing. No, Dave thought, this could only be described as a guffaw. Her excitement was palpable and quite frankly it shocked him.

              “I must say Adelaide, I am surprised at your reaction. Most women would either think I was crazy and leave or run screaming in terror.” Dave fiddled with his watch strap again.

              “Oh no! I think this is great!” Adelaide looked into his eyes. “I am beyond thrilled!”

              Now Dave was truly confused. What could make this woman react this way? He should be thrilled as well. She was going to come willingly into the fold. He would never want to force someone into a life they didn’t want, but this reaction was simply not normal. 

              “This is destiny. I always knew I would meet my own Edward.” Dave froze when Adelaide said the name. His hands began to shake and he could feel his palms begin to sweat.

              In a breathy, quavering voice he said “Edward?”

              “Yeah” she began “like from Twilight. You know Twilight don’t you? I am literally the biggest fan. Here, look at my phone case.”

              She fiddled around in her clutch and brought out her phone and flipped it over. Staring Dave in the face was Edward, surrounded by a swirling mass of glitter in liquid.

              Dave sat back in his chair. He closed his eyes in exasperation. He knew it was too good to be true. Dave hated Twilight. All vampires did. It was offensive and asinine. How could this be his luck? The perfect woman sat in front of him, and she likes Twilight!? He let out a long sigh and looked back up at her. “Listen Adelaide, this isn’t going to work out.”