The Accidental Vampire(4)

Victor smiled faintly, but didn't comment as he watched the rural road they'd exited

onto slowly morph into an urban area with first farmhouses and barns appearing out

of the darkness, then houses. These quickly gave way to businesses; a gas station, the

requisite doughnut shop, secondhand stores, and banks.

"We're meeting her at her restaurant?" Victor asked glancing over the signs on the

storefronts they were passing.

"Yes. Bella Black's," DJ said. "It's supposed to be on Main Street. She said it was on the

left, halfway between the second and third set of lights."

"This is the second set of lights," Victor pointed out as they stopped at the red light.

They both glanced along the road, reading the signs.

"Bella Black's," DJ said aloud even as Victor spotted the building in question. Port

Henry was obviously one of the older towns in Ontario. Most of the storefronts on the

street were Victorian in design. Bella Black's was no exception, but the sign was large

and colorful and the large front window had a painted mural of a sleek green iguana

amidst a bower of flowers.

Victor contemplated the odd choice of design, and then turned his gaze back to the

road as a car reversed into the very last available parking spot. A couple got out and

crossed to the restaurant.

The light changed then and DJ eased their own car forward, passing Bella Black's as the

couple reached the entrance and pulled the door open. They were treated to a brief

view of light and color and milling people, then the door closed behind the couple,

leaving the street silent once more.

"Busy," DJ commented. "It looks like every car parked on this road could belong to just

the clients of the restaurant."

"Hmm," Victor grunted. "Turn here."

They found a spot on the side street and Victor quickly got out. He took the

opportunity to stretch his arms and legs, relieved to be out of the car. Somewhat

claustrophobic, he'd always felt trapped inside closed vehicles. Victor actually

preferred motorcycles, but this was business not pleasure and needs must.

"So," DJ commented as he joined Victor on the sidewalk. "I guess it doesn't matter that

you don't much look like your photo anymore. She'll no doubt know you by the very

fact that she doesn't know you."

Victor scowled with confusion. "What the hell are you on about?"

DJ shrugged. "Well, there are… what? five hundred people in this town? She probably

knows everyone who lives here. We'll stand out like sore thumbs."

"Right," Victor snapped, moving a little more quickly as he approached the door. He

just wanted to get this over with and find out if the woman was an immortal or not. If

she wasn't, they could leave and head home. However, if she was…

Victor's mouth tightened.

If Elvi Black was an immortal, he had to find out all he could about her and take her

back to the council for judgment. As DJ had said, drawing attention to herself with this

ad was considered a major faux pas. He had to find out what other faux pas she was

committing. Judging by the fact that there were also certain rumors circulating around

the Toronto club scene that a female vampire was living in one of the small southern

towns, advertising wasn't her only mistake.

DJ opened the restaurant door and Victor paused as a rush of heat and sound rolled

over them, coming through the opening on a wave of delectable scents. The glimpse

they'd had earlier of the restaurant really hadn't told the whole tale; the place wasn't

just busy, it was packed. People filled every chair and stool and nearly as many were

standing around the open bar at the front of the restaurant… and every single one of

these people went silent and turned to peer their way as they entered, including the

mariachi band that had been strolling between the crowded tables.

"Have you ever been to Mexico?"

Victor answered DJ's hushed question with a shake of the head.

"Neither have I," DJ admitted. "But I think I might like it."

Victor's mouth twisted dubiously at this claim as he ignored the rudely staring people

and slid his gaze over the colorful decor of the restaurant. The walls were a pale cream

broken by splash after splash of color, a blue and gold sombrero hanging on the wall, a

huge bright green statue of an iguana and it's young on a shelf, a string of clay pots

filled with sunflowers as well as several color prints, most of them by Diego Rivera. And

on top of all that there were colorful streamers, balloons, and a huge Happy Birthday

banner.

Even without the celebratory decor, it was too much color and excitement for Victor.

He preferred soothing blues and cool whites. This was… loud and almost blinding to his