Author's Note: The power of persuasion is an amazing thing. Thank you to everyone who has sent notes. I've updated my profile.

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Trish cut into her baked chicken and asparagus dinner. A light drizzle of cream of broccoli covered the chicken as it was baked to perfection. The white blush wine that complemented it was just as equally devouring. "This is so good." She clamored.

Dave watched Trish eat her meal. Her reaction was typical and expected. Of course, she wasn't going to believe him and he didn't think she would. She did surprise him by not leaving the restaurant in a mad dash. But once Trish explained to Dave that she was there for a great meal and she was going to get it, he complied.

"Waiter! Waiter!" Trish flagged their server down and held up her glass. "Can I have some more, please? Thank you."

She must've had at least three glasses of wine—and that wasn't counting the two she had before dinner arrived. Dave sighed as he slowly began to realize how terrible the evening was going to be. Rock was right. I was better off fucking her and killing her.

"So how many people have you killed?" Trish asked nonchalantly.

Dave once again knew what Trish was trying to do. There was no way she believed him but she was going to humor him. Wanting to maintain the calm scene, Dave played Trish's game. "Many."

"Really?" She asked, with her eyes lit with pretense interest. "And you sucked the blood out of their necks?"

"Sometimes."

Trish took another bite and waved her fork in a circular motion. "Interesting. So let me ask you, Mr. Vampire…if you're really a vampire, where are your fangs?"

"They come out when I'm getting ready to kill someone."

Trish nodded. "I see, I see." The waiter came back with her glass and she wasted no time drinking her wine. "You know I've studied a little about vampires. I know a thing or two about them."

"Oh? And what do you know?"

"I know." Trish took another sip. "That you're full of shit."

As Trish made her comment, Dave caught Rock's eyes staring at the scene. Rock had a look in his eyes that were suggesting that he was going to have no problem getting the job done, so to speak.

What the hell is taking you so long, Dave?

I got it, man.

It doesn't look like you got it.

Let me handle it.

Alright, but if the drunk bitch throws up on my floor….

Rock…

"First of all, all vampires are pale." Trish pointed her knife towards Dave. "You're nowhere near pale. Second, all vampires have long fingernails. Yours are curiously manicured which makes me wonder if your real secret is that you're homo. Third, all vampires have capes and turn into bats. I have yet to see anything like that from you. And lastly…"

Dave finished Trish's thoughts for her. "All vampires sleep in coffins."

Trish nodded as she was taking another bite of her dinner. "Exactly! That's why you're full of shit."

"I think somebody has seen Interview With the Vampire a little too much." Dave smirked.

Trish moved her head to the left. "Hardy-har-har, motherfucker." She took another sip. "If you're a vampire—and that's a big fuckin' if—do a trick for me."

"Oh, so I'm your puppy now?"

"Damn right you are." Trish hiccupped. "Do something. Show me, motherfucker."

Dave took another sigh. The last time he showed a "trick" was to humor Nitro and London, who have yet to stop talking about "the wicked time that Dave fucked with their heads." And now Dave was forced to become a spontaneous magician. "Fine. You want a trick? Put a thought into your head. Doesn't matter. Just put a thought into your head."

Trish closed her eyes and pretended to think hard. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes. "Okay, I have a thought. What am I thinking, Mr. Vampire?"

Dave smiled and shook his head. "I'm not going to say it out loud where people can hear me, Trisha."

"No, go ahead and say it, damn it." Trish's voice became a little louder, causing other patrons to see what the commotion was about. "You're brave enough to kill people, you should be brave enough to say what I'm thinking."

"Fine." Dave said quietly. He leaned over the table. "Yes, I think your snatch is cute. And yes, despite you thinking that I'm not going to get any ass, I'll convince you otherwise."

Trish pulled back and gasped. "Lucky guess."

"Of course it was." Dave rolled his eyes.

Trish finished her wine. "Fine. If you're this vampire, prove it. Show me your home."

Dave looked at Trish and glanced at Rock. He smiled and nodded. She wants to see The Family, let her see The Family.

"Fine." Dave nodded to Rock that he and Trish were done with their table. "Let's go home."

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Dave drove Trish to his palatial Victorian home. Giving her water in hopes she would sober a little, Dave gave Trish a tour of his home. Decorated in the finest and luxurious furniture and art, the home was fit for royalty. From the massive library that encompassed 50,000 books to the living room that was bigger than The Wood, Trish was floored. Maybe he is a vampire.

"You wanted to see my coffin?" Dave asked.

"Um, sure." Trish said nervously.

Dave led Trish upstairs to his bedroom. A large four post bed was front and center and candles were spread throughout the room. Covered in deep reds and burgundies, it was no mistake that the colors reminded Trish of blood. She felt herself checking her neck to see if there were any bite marks. "Nice bedroom." She muttered.

"Thank you." Dave pointed to the corner. "There it is."

Trish glanced over to her right and took a step back as she saw it. Standing upright was an oak coffin. Despite how much she had to drink, Trish felt herself sobering up very quickly. "Is that real?"

"I hope so. I paid really good money for it." Dave said.

Trish glanced up at him, waiting for the joke but there was none to be found. "Do you sleep there?"

"Actually I sleep there." Dave pointed towards the bed.

"Oh." Trish muttered again. "Um, can I take a look at the coffin?"

"Sure." Dave walked over to the coffin and opened it for her. It was that moment that Trish knew exactly how metrosexual her boyfriend was. "Should I be surprised there's a Louis Vuitton lining inside?"

"Not really." Dave replied.

Trish examined the coffin while she gathered her thoughts. She wanted to ask Dave how he was able to afford the house and everything inside—including the coffin. But a part of her didn't want know the truth. He was already honest with what he did and she was pretty sure that how he acquired the items was something short of honest. I'm better off not knowing. "Nice."

Dave walked over to the bed and sat down. "Honey, come here."

Trish stopped examining the coffin and began to walk towards Dave. She stopped midway. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Because you're still alive."

"You're not funny."

Dave took off his shirt and threw it in the corner. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but let's be real, you wouldn't believe me."

Trish had to focus her concentration on Dave's eyes and other parts of his face to distract her from thinking about licking his nipples. "What makes you think I believe you now?"

"You're here."

"And I'm getting ready to leave pretty damn soon."

"I doubt that. If you didn't believe me, you would've left at The Palace." Dave cocked his head to the side. "I think a part of you likes the fact that I'm a bit on the dark side."

"Bullshit."

"Oh?"

"Yeah! If you're a vampire, do something else with your mind!" She challenged.

"Trish, come here."

"No." She folded her arms.

"Fine." With his mind, Dave moved Trish towards him. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she stood in between his legs. "You did that intentionally just to see if I can do it, huh?"

"Oh yeah." She grinned.

After they made love, Trish rested her head on Dave's chest. Too many events and freak occurrences happened for her to question what he said. Either he really is a vampire or he's seriously fucked up. Trish raised her head to look at her boyfriend. He looked peaceful as sleep kissed him. As she watched him sleep, Trish thought about what Dave told her. There was a reason why he told her about his lifestyle when he could've just lied about it. But that part wasn't bothering her so much.

While she was fascinated with his lifestyle, she was also scared and nervous about it. And that was when it hit Trish hard. She was in love with a murderer. And if she wasn't careful, she was going to be his next victim.