Writers NOTE: I wanted to write a strange story,... sort of out-of-character for me. Here it is.
Love Bites
Lana put the last touches to her makeup. The deep red lipstick contrasted with her fair complexion. She smiled at her reflection. In a few minutes she was to meet someone in town for their first date.
Lana had only met him a couple nights before, but she was somehow drawn to him. Handsome, charming, mysterious. A man seemingly out of a fairy tale. There was something special about this one. She couldn’t quite put her little finger on it, but he was definitely different.
Her black dress clung to her curves, the hem swaying as she hurried down the quiet street. Click, click, click, click. Her heels on the cobble stone.
She waited in front of the park for her date. He was standing closeby unperceived, holding her whole in his eyes.
“Lana.” He said.
“Hello Leopold.” she smiled.
“My, my. Don’t we smell lovely tonight.”
“I knew you liked it from last time.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, where are we going?”
“Why, here. I have plans for us.”
“In the park? How charming. The same place we first met.”
“Yes, the moon is beautiful tonight. But first I have a gift for you.”
He held out a black velvet box.
“Oh! What’s this?”
She opened it. A small diamond on a silver chain.
“My goodness!” She put her hand over her mouth, “But Leo, it’s only our first date.”
“Yes. But you my dear, are special.”
She turned around and let him put on the necklace. He leaned in close to her neck, almost trembling when his lips came near.
The pathway was brightly lit, with benches every hundred feet. To the right under the trees there a private picnic laid out. A romantic candlelit dinner in the park. How quaint. Lana appreciated such an imaginative and unique date setting.
“I don’t understand how you can be Italian, live in Italy, and not love Italian food.”
“I just don’t have a taste for it. The garlic ...really gets to me.” Leopold replied, and took a sip of wine.
“Are you sure you’re Italian? You’re awfully pale.”
“I’m not out in the sun much.”
Lana sighed and looked up at the full moon.
“It’s gorgeous tonight, isn’t it?”
“That it is.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. The necklace shimmered beautifully on her silky smooth neck.
“Look at the stars. There are so many of them!”
“Many stars indeed.”
“I wish I could count them all.”
“That is very difficult.”
She turned back to him and smiled. “Are you saying you’ve tried?”
“Many times.”
“You must have a lot of patience.”
“I love to count.”
Leopold smiled and watched his wine as he swirled it around in his glass.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I was just thinking about telling you… or… showing you.”
“Showing me?… Wh… Is it so hard to explain?”
“It’s more fun if I show you.”
She sat up. “I’m not so sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“Lana, I love you.” He stroked her cheek.
Lana stood up. “Leo, I want to go home.”
He stood up and put his hands on her arms. His hands were cold. “I want you to be with me forever.”
“How can you say this when we barely even know one another?!.”
“What is your answer?”
“No… NO!”
“I think you will change your mind.”
She stared at his eyes. They were changing color. Now they were red as blood. She tried to push him away.
“Stay still! It won't hurt... Long.”
Flash of movement, he revealed his protruding fangs and sunk them deep into her white neck. The scream pleased him. Lana fell limp in his arms.
When she opened her eyes again he asked her, “Was it good?”
She replied, “It was love at first bite.”
The long scream had made an old woman in the street drop her cain. She looked overhead and crossed herself as two bats flew into the night.
NOTE: "It was love at first bite", too cheesy?