"Still waiting on someone, sir?" The rosy-cheeked waitress wondered. Her brown eyes darted wearily to the empty booth across from me, concern curling each eyebrow. "Yes, thank you. He should be here any second now." I brought the steaming mug of English Breakfast to my lips, sipping slowly before giving her a tight-lipped smile. _Bitter. _ _Much_ more bitter than usual. "Actually, dear...do you mind bringing some extra sugar and cream?" My tongue curled at the thin, acrid taste. It was sour, like watered-down gasoline. "Not at all! Will two packs suffice?" "Ah_, _double everything." I chuckled, "The one I'm meeting today, his palate is a bit unusual. _Miss...?_" The young woman gave an expression that was vibrant and well-mannered, soft-eyed and warm-smiled. It was _pity_. I'd grown to recognize it so easily. Something about a withered old man losing his wits about him, perhaps it scared young people straight. An espresso shot of comparison. As their eyes drink me in, they ask themselves "_could _**_my_**_ soft features wrinkle and prune like that?_" I squinted my eyes at her silver name tag. "_Renee_? No, no..." As the young waitress's eyes widened, I snapped my fingers at a realization. "_Renée_! That's the French spelling, isn't it?" "Oh! _Yes_, how did you-" "**Charles!" ** As a sharp gust of freezing wind pricked my skin, a familiar musk curled through the coffee shop's aroma. It bled across the complex, nutty notes with something dark and perennial. A figure filled the doorframe in an ominous shadow. _Bezerebam_ had arrived. I sighed as the chattering room grew quiet. In the intimate diner, his voice had commanded attention without even meaning to. "Charles," he _tsk_ed, "why do you always come early? Did you miss me that much, old man?" Between his young, handsome face and draped layers of luxurious embroidered fabric, he seemed a bit like a prince who'd stumbled across a poor, destitute village. "I'm not early, Bez...you're just preposterously late. Have a drink, brother." "I'll fetch some more tea!" Renée squeaked between red cheeks. She spun on her heels before dashing into the kitchen. "_Charlie_, you're always so sweet to me." "_Bezerenbam_, hurry and sit. You're drawing too much attention." As he plopped into the booth across from me, his scent overwhelmed us in a cloud of aphrodisiac spice. I tried to ignore the turning heads, burning holes conspicuously from my peripherals. "You smell disgusting, by the way, Bez. It's too much." "It's always too much...too _this_, too _that_ with you! Anyways, you smell delightful as always, Charlie." "Well, I imagine everyone smells delightful to a _vampire_." Bezerenbam's eyes looked off into the shop before his lips formed a deep, guttaral laugh. His hands found my drink before taking a long and exaggerated sip. "You didn't want to ask first?" "Not everyone smells delightful, Charlie. Other vampires smell revolting to me. You'd think you were a vampire, too, with that reaction. This tea is _delicious_, by the way." "You think it's delicious? You've always had bad taste." "**Would your son like to place an order, sir?**" Renée stood at the head of our table, hands full with a second batch of tea and a platter ofcream and sugar. "Oh, _Renée_, is it? That's French?" "Ah, well, yes..." "This isn't my father, but I am very flattered. l know my looks far exceed Charlie's. Believe it or not.." Bezerenbam leaned in for a whisper, eyes riddled with mischief. "He's actually my twin brother!" Renée laughed kindly, nervousness visibly smoothing from her shoulders at what I'm sure she'd seen as a joke. "Ah, brothers..." "But I'll have some more of this tea, Renée. It's delicious!" "Got it!" She announced, scurrying back to behind the bar. "You must find yourself so very enterntaining, Bezerenbam. Doesn't your nose grow from lying so easily?" "Well your nose is a monster and I find it lovely, Charlie." "Isn't that too rude, Bez?" "A large nose? No, no, it's a compliment. Don't you know that in Wallachi, a large nose is a sign of regality? A recognizable nose is the kind of things that carries on dynasties!" "How Byzantine..." "Isn't it Constantinople? How Istanbul? What do you all call it now?" In a whirl of rosy cheeks, Renée returned to refill the kettle. Bezerenbam crinkled his nose. "Should I just say it? You smell absolutely disgusting." "Leave the girl alone, old man. She's an innocent child." "What are you saying, she's even older than me!" I whipped my head to the young waitress in surprise. How had I not noticed? As she smiled back from the cave of the diner, sharp canines flashed quickly before disappearing as if I'd dreamt it. "You'd think you'd recognize another vampire by now, Charlie." "No wonder the tea was horrid."