Page 1 of Bite Me
1
AT AGLIO
RUSSEL
“You look like death,” Levi said, flashing his teeth in an exaggerated, creepy smile.
I scoffed at the old joke.
He turned his wineglass, making the ruby liquid swirl. He pretended not to look at me too closely, even though he had surely analyzed every micro-expression the second I stepped into his hotel.
The excellent wine—Levi only had the best—should have improved my mood. It soothed my throat and tricked my empty stomach. But this odd apathy persisted. I was so used to the feeling that I rarely noticed it anymore. Maybe it was just who I was—a sad, lonesome creature of darkness, who apparently enjoyed feeling sorry for himself.
“What’s up with you?” Levi asked.
“Nothing’s up with me. Nothing’s the matter, nothing matters, nothing’s happening.”
My friend nodded solemnly. “Ah. The April blues. The prolonged daylight always gives me an existential crisis. The experts recommend feeding more often in smaller doses to combat seasonal depression.”
“I’m not depressed. The sun doesn’t affect me.”
Levi lifted his sculpted eyebrows. “I assure you that it does.”
“I don’t have seasonal depression, Levi.”
“Are you becoming a grump with old age?”
I gave him my most annoyed look, but he just laughed.
“Russel, my friend, you need to feed more often. You deny your body the most basic of needs and then complain about the consequences.”
Levi’s solution for everything was more blood and more sex. It worked for him. “I’m fine.”
“Come to the club.”
“Thanks, I’m good.” All that hassle. Flirt, seduce, negotiate. It used to be exciting a decade ago, but the more I knew about human nature, the less I enjoyed conversing with my food. I was good for a few more days.
Levi finished his wine and set the glass down. “You’re about to start at Fowles & Tito. You can’t go in there looking like one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.”
“I have time until Monday.”
But my friend was already on the move. “No arguments! There’s at least a dozen naughty boys upstairs who’ll be all over you. And no vampire has ever left my finest establishment hungry. You’d ruin my reputation.”
It was useless to protest when Levi got like this. He wasn’t even looking at me as he spoke, marching forward. He gestured something at the bartender, who nodded back. Resigned, I walked after Levi through the hotel lobby. I’d make my escape later.
A young woman in a form-fitting suit came from the opposite direction, smiling at him.
“Good evening, Mr. Castillo.”
“Good evening, Jeanne.”
She blushed as she passed us.
I leaned in to whisper to Levi. “You keep telling me you don’t eat where you work.”
“I don’t.”
“What was that, then?” I pressed.
