It’s almost nine in the evening and Mira is counting inventory when the bell on the diner’s entrance rings, alerting her that a customer has arrived.
“Welcome! Just take a seat and I’ll be right with you,” she calls out from the kitchen.
Like most days at the diner, business was slow, so Mira was the only one working. A thick fog that had settled for most of the day also hindered her few regulars from stopping by, so she hadn’t expected anyone to come, especially at this late hour.
“What can I get for you?” she asks as she heads out of the kitchen, but halfway out the door, she abruptly stops.
A figure stands at the entrance, unmoving. It has the outline of a person, but their body is obscured; it’s as if they’re far away and out of focus.
An uneasiness overcomes Mira as her palms begin to sweat. She has only encountered someone like this once in the hundreds of years she has lived.
“What do you want?” Mira asks, her voice tense.
Slowly, the figure approaches the counter. Mira takes notice of how they move in a gliding motion, as if they’re nothing more than a shadow. Fascination and terror begin to overwhelm her as she realizes this isn’t the same person she encountered decades ago.
The figure’s vague silhouette hardens into that of a man in a dark suit. He stands well above six feet and commands a grave presence similar to the thick fog that lingers just outside the diner.
“Conversation,” he sits down on a stool, “if you’re willing to offer it.”
Mira stares at him, startled by his light and humorous tone.
“Conversation? It’s a bit late for that, but how about I get you some coffee instead?”
The man offers the faintest smile. “Thank you, but I’d only like to talk.”
Mira crosses her arms. “Alright. I guess I have time. So what’s on your mind?”
“You are,” his smile grows. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Mira shifts on her feet, feeling uncomfortable, but she tries to hide it by offering a smile of her own. “I’m flattered. You must’ve heard about me from my customers.”
“Not exactly. I actually heard about you from an old friend we share.”
She squeezes her arm. “Really? Who?”
“Leon.”
“Leon,” Mira attempts to keep her tone cool. “Yeah, I remember him. But I’m surprised he told you about me. We never really got off—or ended—on the right foot.”
“He told me as much. But he couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“You make it sound like he was interested in me.”
“He was, and he isn’t the only one.”
“Didn’t know I was popular.”
“Mira, Leon’s methods of persuasion may have been—”
“He burned down my restaurant,” she cuts in.
“And he shouldn’t have done that,” the man waits for a beat, “but I know you’re aware of our rules.”
“I know you’re aware those rules don’t apply to me.”
“But they do, Mira.”
“I’m human.”
“Humans aren’t immortal.”
“That’s debatable.”
The man chuckles. It’s a warm sound, but it grates on Mira’s nerves. “What’s your name?” she asks as she moves to lean against the kitchen’s doorframe.
The man eyes her carefully before answering, “Julian.”
“So what are you, Julian? The way you entered reminded me of Leon, but he moved more,” she tries to find the best words, “human-like.”
“He and I are both the same; vampires, as humans call us. But I think you already know we aren’t similar to the blood-thirsty villains in their stories.”
“No, I wasn’t aware. I’ve only been around fellow humans.”
“You’ve been alive for so long now, you likely know more than your fellow supernaturals.”
“An exceptionally long life doesn’t make someone supernatural, Julian.”
“Then please tell me, what are you?”
“An unusual human.”
Julian laughs again. “I have unending patience, Mira, but I can sense your agitation. Do you really want to talk in circles like this?”
She stares at him, wondering how to respond. If Leon were here, the counter would have already been split in half, or worse, this place would be on fire.
“I don’t, Julian, of course I don’t. But you already know my answer.”
“Yes, but I’m here because I can’t accept that answer. All supernaturals must adhere to the rules, and we’ve allowed you to break them for too long.”
“How’s living outside the supernatural community against the rules? What am I doing that’s so wrong?”
“Those are just the rules, we’ve never made any exceptions until you.”
“Then that exception can continue. I’m causing no harm.”
“I don’t make the rules, Mira.”
“The only thing that makes me supernatural is that I can’t die! I can’t do anything other than that—no unnatural powers, no shifting into a crazed beast, no vampire-like tendencies. I’m powerless, just plain weak. I can do no harm to any human, so they’re safe, completely safe.”
Silence sits between them, but Mira is thankful for it. She could use a few seconds to catch her breath.
“Maybe I’ll take that coffee,” Julian says.
“Sure,” Mira moves over to the coffee machine. While she does so, she sees Julian light a cigarette. Smoking isn’t allowed in her diner, but she makes an exception, hoping it will help him warm up to her decision to remain alongside humans. She doesn’t let herself have too much hope, though.
“Do you smoke?” Julian asks.
“No, but I used to a while back,” she places his coffee near him. “But I’m surprised you do. I didn’t think vampires smoked.”
“That’s a very human assumption, but yes, we do smoke,” Julian takes a sip of his coffee. “You know, in many ways, we’re very similar to humans. Sometimes, you can’t even tell the difference.”
“I’ll try looking for humans that float like you,” Mira chuckles.
“We can act like humans when we need to.”
“How come Leon moved differently than you? Even though his body was obscured, I could tell he was walking.”
Julian seems to consider his answer, “I’m older than him, and after some time, you realize that moving around the way I do is much easier.”
“Guess you’re not really interested in playing human then.”
“Only when I need to.”
“Maybe I would’ve warmed up to going with you if you’d arrived more humanly.”
“Would you?”
“Maybe.”
“I doubt you would have.”
“No really, just try to think of it through my eyes. How would you feel if some stranger came to you with such a dark and ominous aura, floating around like Death itself?”
“So you’ve met Death?” Julian asks through a smile.
“No, I’ve only heard of them,” Mira lies. “Have you?”
“Who told you about Death?” he ignores her question. “Even humans, once they meet them, are unable to speak of their encounter because they’re already dead.”
“I chatted with a few supernaturals back in the day,” Mira lies again.
“Is that so? That surprises me because, as I’m sure you’re unaware, supernaturals don’t tend to leave their supernatural community. We are a scarce people, that’s why we remain adamant about sticking together. So I’m curious, have you ever visited a supernatural community?”
“Briefly, just on a trip overseas.”
“Do tell me where? I’ve been all over the world.”
Mira leans against the counter behind her and grips its edges. “Somewhere in the Philippines, and let me tell you, the vampires there are nothing like you.”
“And how long ago was this?”
“Probably twenty, thirty years ago. I’ll have to schedule another trip over there when I can, maybe you’ll finally get off my back.”
“Mira, dear, there aren’t any more vampires in the Southeast Asian supernatural community. There haven’t been for the last three hundred years.”
A tight laugh leaves her, but Julian cuts it short.
“With all those years you have lived, I expected more from you, but dwelling among humans for so long must have left you with little tact.” Julian begins to rise from his seat, “When you see Death again, please tell them I look forward to our next chat, though I hope that is a long time from now.”
Mira watches as Julian’s form begins to obscure. She slowly moves away and places her hand on the kitchen’s swinging door. As she leans in to push it open, Julian disappears into mist and reappears inside the kitchen, but she’s not there.
“Bad idea, Julian,” Mira says from outside the kitchen.
Julian turns into mist again, but he reappears in the same place. His eyes hold mirth, but when he speaks, Mira feels his rage.
“What is this?”
“The kitchen door.”
“Don’t play with me, immortal. What have you done?”
“I don’t quite know, so many years spent with humans, my mind is leaving me. You’ll have to wait as I try to remember.”
“Mira,” Julian grinds out, “if you let me out, I’ll refrain from reuniting you with Death.”
“That doesn’t seem like the better option, so I think I’ll keep you there for a bit, but don’t worry, you’ll be out soon enough.”
“I’m only giving you one option. What you’ve done–“
“Entrapment spell, that’s all it is. And anyway, it was you who thought popping in and out of my kitchen was okay.”
“Leon never informed me about your ability to use magic.”
Mira remains silent.
“Or did someone do this for you?”
“I think it’s time for me to close up,” Mira looks at the clock above the diner’s entrance. It’s a quarter to ten.
“Don’t get too comfortable with your freedom. I’m taking you with me once I get out of here.”
“You really think I’ll stay long enough for that?”
“Mira, we have always known about you. There are only so many places you can hide.”
“We’ll see about that. Until then, have a good night, Julian.”
Before he can respond, Mira is out the diner’s front doors. The sound of crickets and distant cars greet her. Off to the side of the road lies her car, but she walks away from it.
With the knowledge that she’ll have to start over again, Mira continues deeper into the fog-filled night.
Corner of Words 