It was a night as routine as the rest, I sat alone in the old café were Lydia and I sat that last night we were alive.  I came here every night.  I don’t know why, nostalgia, I suppose.  This like many others I was waiting for someone to return, someone to come home, but no one ever did.  I thought to myself, “Why should this night be any different” Then I noticed something, a scentless scent.  A feeling I was not the only vampire in New Orleans tonight.  I could figure out who it was, I didn’t recognize the vibrations I was getting.  Every vampire puts off an aura that only we can recognize.  This aura was unknown to me.  I felt it approaching.  I turned to the door to see who this stranger was.

          He was a large man, about six foot six. I saw immediately the most vibrant olive green eyes.  They reminded me of Lydia’s, the way they reflected light, like stained glass.  His skin was pale and smooth like my own, mortal skin is never that flawless; it didn’t shimmer like our own.  He brushed his midnight hair with a streak if grey over his muscular shoulder.  It was much longer than mine was, not as long as Mortimer is though, but still the same color.  “Black number one” I smiled to myself as he passed by on his way to the bar.  He wore an old worn out leather, biker jacket, and a nice black, button down shirt.  When he walked, you could hear his huge combat boots hit the floor along with the jingle of his chain hanging from his jeans.  He was quite attractive I thought as he sat at the bar ordering a glass of red wine, just as I was approaching the bar to do the same.  He looked over at me as I stood there waiting for the bartender to prepare our drinks.  I pulled a clove out of the box in my purse.  He gave a shy smile and offered me a light.  As I leaned over to the lighter he was holding, the bartender gave us our wine.

“It’s on me,” He said.

“Oh, you don’t have…”  I protested, but he interrupted me and said, “It isn’t every day I see an infamous vampire such as yourself”

“You have heard of me?”  I asked expecting the worst.

“Who hasn’t, where is your partner in crime?”

I just shrugged nonchalantly.  “May I know your name?”  I inquired.

“Oh, Alexander Jameson.”

“Nice to meet you Alexander Jameson, I’m Cynthia”

“I know, call me Alex.”

“Well, if you don’t have any prior engagements you could join me tonight for a few drinks and company.”  It was completely out of my character to ask someone something like that, but I did.

“I’d be glad to, Cynthia.”

He followed me back to my seat, a secluded booth in the corner.

          He had a low deep voice and he spoke with a slight accent that sounded northern.

“So where are you from?”  I asked.

“Germany.”

“That’s what I was thought your accent sounded like.”  He just smiled letting his long fangs show.  There was something about him that seemed so innocent and so sweet that dissipated his rough looks.  I asked him how he came across this small landmark, and he said a friend recommend it.

“Well, your friend has ill-acquired taste.”  I smiled as I exhaled a stream of blue smoke.  He seemed fascinated by it. 

We carried on small talk for an hour or more and lost track of time somewhere along the night.  It became rather late, I had not fed yet, and nether had he, so he accompanied me in find a victim for the night.  We walked about the square out side the alleyway until we spotted a young woman about twenty-four, bleach blonde hair and a tan face that looked like plastic.  Those were my favorite.  The bitches that just used people for their money, only worried about them selves.

I could smell her sweet blood running through her veins as we neared her.  I grabbed her quickly from behind and dragged her in to a dark corner behind the church.  I cover her mouth with my hand as she cried to her “god” to save her.

“He can’t hear you now sweetheart,” I whispered in her ear.  Alex stood on the sidewalk with a cool smirk on his face as he watched me bit into her tender dark neck and began to drink her blood, while trying block her memories and thoughts.  I looked into her eyes and saw pure fear and I just laughed at offer her limp whimpering body to Alex.  He took her into his large arms; she looked like a rag doll dangling before me.  He drank then lowered her down to me so I could finish her.

          After we left her empty body behind the church, I began to feel the dawn coming on fast and he did too.  He smiled at me and whispered, “The sun is coming up.”

“I know.”

“We should leave, do you live near?” he asked me.

“Yeah, just around the corner on Decatur St.”  I replied.

“Would you like me to walk you, I’m just over on St Louis”

“Sure, if you don’t mind” I answered.

          I could feel no malice coming from him.  He actually made me feel rather safe, I thought as he walked me to the town house were I stayed.  He asked me why Lydia and I chose New Orleans to flee too.

“Well, we were going to be caught soon, so we thought ‘Well, it’s either rot away in jail for the rest of our lives or we could just kill ourselves.’  It was going to be our last night alive and we were going to live it up we thought, but the night didn’t end the way we planned.  When we awoke the following night we got what we really wanted, a second chance at life.  We were vampires from then on.”

“Well, what you and your friend have started in your mortal lives has become more than just some murders.  It is a legend.  Vampires don’t know what to think of you two.  Some fear you, others hate you, and few admire you.”

“It’s a reputation I’m still proud to own.”  I said.

“And that is why you fascinate me, Cynthia.”  All I could do was smile.

          We turned on Decatur St. as I watch Alex look at city like the one he had seen nothing like it.  “Why did you choose New Orleans though?”  He asked suddenly.

“What other place would I choose?”  I said, “It’s like home to me.”

“I think that’s why I came here, you know, its magical.” he grinned and I smiled back.  “Why don’t you just stay here in New Orleans?”  I asked.

“I will someday” he replied.  “Someday…”  We arrived at my doorstep, he leaned in a kissed me on the cheek goodnight.

“Goodnight Cynthia”