I made it to the restaurant in record time. Paying the valet to park my beautiful car I tucked my handbag under my arm as I had seen Mona do and sashayed into the restaurant making sure that my hips swayed with each step. I approached the host and he looked at me his eyes wide and he smiled lustily.
“Prudence Warren.” I said my voice warm. It may have said come hither but the look in my eyes said I would eat you alive.
“Ah yes. Please come with me your party just arrived.” He led me through the tables and laughing guests to the back corner. My “date” had his menu up so that I could not see his face. I took my seat and thanked the man with a healthy tip that made him smile even wider.
“When Mona said you were going to be late she didn’t mention it would be twenty minutes.” The voice was familiar and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up on end.
“Please forgive me I entered the wrong address in my GPS.” I lied. The man behind the menu chuckled.
“She said something like that.” He put the menu down and I smiled sheepishly at the man before me. Why had the woman made a reservation at a high end restaurant if I was going to be dining with a vampire? Edmund’s eyes penetrated mine and I gave him a cold stare.
“Well you would think she would choose a place that has food fit for a man of your taste.” I said without smiling. Think cold Dawn. Be one with the coldness.
“You would think that. However she wanted this meeting to be as public as possible so that the possibility of a spy would be nearly impossible.” He folded his hands in front of his chest and looked at me darkly.
“You would think quite the opposite. More people more possibilities.” I crossed my ankles and stared at him.
“I feel like I know you.” He said examining my face. “It isn’t possible is it?”
“Well that depends, when was the last time you were in Maine?” I waved over the waiter and ordered an Apple Martini (Mona said they were to die for), the man didn’t even ask for my ID which made me feel even better about my appearance.
“Probably two hundred years ago.” He laughed softly. “That could be it you know. I am not one to forget a face like yours.”
“Like mine?” Was Edmund actually flirting with me?
“You have a face that could launch a thousand cannonballs.” He seemed displeased with his Helen of Troy reference but it made me feel good inside to know that the transformation was working. Not to mention that all my little trinkets were doing as they were told.
“You are quite charming, sir.” I said thanking the waiter as he placed my cocktail in front of me.
“You are quite beautiful.” Yes he was in fact hitting on me. Would this change if he knew it was me under this hair and makeup?
“Now flattery.” I raised my glass to him. “Can I get you something to drink?” I asked. I had a test that I wanted to try and I prayed with all my power that what I was about to do would work.
“If you can turn water into blood that would be amazing.” He laughed. I smiled at him wickedly and he raised an eyebrow. “You can’t do that can you?” I reached over and grabbed the water glass to my right holding it in my hands I closed my eyes. I felt them burn for a moment and then the burning stopped the water had been transformed into a think red liquid. Only one way to find out if it worked. I pushed the glass towards him.
“It is always best to attempt the impossible.” I raised my glass and we toasted one another. I took a sip and sat the glass on the table watching him with intense eyes wondering if I had actually achieved the one thing that I was going for.
“Amazing and it’s even still warm.” He laughed his right hand inched closer to mine. What was I supposed to do?
“I figured you would prefer it that way. Something about cold blood even makes my stomach turn.” I joked with him and he threw his head back laughing.
“Mona said you were quite the woman.” He looked towards the crowd. “So might I inquire as to what you are?”
“I am a mixture of many things.” I laughed. Mona had not told me what I was supposed to be.
“Born or made?” He asked softly his eyes glancing at my chest.
“Born.” I said shifting so that he had to look back up into my eyes.
“Oh you are naturally hybrid than.” He looked impressed. “Your mother must have been one hell of a woman.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked taking another sip of my cocktail and crossing my legs.
“Your skin is as pale as milk your eyes as clear as crystal. You hold so many wonders in them. It is as if you have seen the centuries come and go and yet your beauty and youth remain.” He was a regular Casanova. Maybe if I didn’t already know Edmund I would have been easily wooed by his words.
“And that has to do with my mother how?” I questioned pursing my lips together and giving him a questionable look.
“Because it must have killed her to see how she created something so perfect.” He reached across the table and took my hand in his. Mona had said this was a blind date. It looked like he had showed out of pity for the woman fearing that she was trying to pair him with some unfortunate soul.
I blushed momentarily and looked into the man’s sparkling eyes. It was becoming easier to think like Prudence, I just had to remember that at this point I was not Dawn.
“Oh you flatter me so.” I laughed daintily just letting him hold my warm hand between his cold fingers.
“I am incapable of lying to one so beautiful. I must know your name.” He said coolly his eyes narrowing.
“Prudence Warren.” I answered without hesitation. I had done it, I had said the name we had chosen and not my given name.
“That’s an old name Prudence.” He smiled at me seductively and it took everything in my power not to bust out laughing.
“You have no idea.” I said shyly narrowing my eyes.