Second Cup 4

With mincing steps Anya approached, easing back the
hood of her shapeless frock to expose her neck. Mora bit gently,
as she had done countless times before—a small nip of blood in
exchange for a trickle of saliva. The vampire’s fluid coursed
through Anya’s diminished figure. Recovery was swift; the
intimacy fleeting. The two stood at the railing—one tall and
imperious in hues of blood, the other squat and all seeing,
forever garbed in black.
“Look at the island, Anya. Darkness hides a beauty I’ll
never see. I envy your freedom, able to walk those quaint streets
by daylight. I wish I could stop hiding from the sun and drink in
the sights instead of a mortal’s blood.”
“Only since boarding this ship have you talked of being
dissatisfied. I fear for you, M’lady. Do not wish for what cannot
be.”
Mora took a thoughtful sip of champagne. “I know I can’t go
back to my worldly existence. But tell me, is the future so bleak
that a woman can’t dream?”
The clairvoyant dwarf took her time, staring out to the island
lights. “I see explosion. Brilliance.”
“Your vision must be of this evening’s fireworks. They’re of
no concern to me. Now help me into the red strapless chiffon. I’ll
dine from the casino tonight.”
***
Admiring eyes followed Mora as she sashayed her
way through the maze of gaming tables, her focus
undeterred by the blare of slot machines and
boisterous crowd. Money meant little to her, having amassed
fortunes through the ages. But the casino attracted a crop of
eligible men ripe for the harvesting. She lusted for a heartyveined
gambler to slake her thirst.
Finding a seat at Baccarat, she bet modestly, careful to lose
more than she won, putting on a demure pout when wagers and