Welcome to the Downworld
The group reached Taki's Diner in record time. Clancy, the ifrit guarding the doors, hardly looked up from his newspaper as they passed. He simply nodded at the two vampires in the lead, Jez and Lily, and went back to reading. They entered the sagging building and Jez led them to a booth near the door. The restaurant was nearly empty that late at night, especially since it was a full moon. Aside from their group there were two more ifrits and a blue haired fey sitting at a booth in the corner.
Gennyfer was looking around warily as she took her seat between Raphael and Elliott. Raphael figured that she had seen too many strange things that night to completely relax. She remained jittery as Kaelie came over to take their orders. They all asked for their usual except for Zeke, who sullenly asked for a shot of whisky to be added to his half-pint of cow's blood. Finally it was time for Gennyfer to order. She was staring at the menu as if it were a particularly difficult math problem. She hesitated so much that Kaelie asked if she should come back.
"No, it's ok." Gennyfer shook her head and pushed the menu away. "I'll just have whatever Raphael is having, but without alcohol if there's any."
Kaelie nodded and collected the menus before heading to the kitchen to put their orders in.
Jez leaned forward and propped her head up on her hands. "So," she said to Gennyfer, "tell."
Gennyfer smiled sadly. "It's not really much of a story. I was attacked by something. Raphael was there for some reason and he and another vampire," she looked to Raphael for a name.
"Stephan." he supplied. She nodded.
"Right. They stopped…it from killing me then…" she hesitated. "I think Raphael gave me his blood and told me to sleep. I don't remember much after that."
"What attacked you?" Elliott asked wide-eyed, "A demon?"
"Not a demon, a werewolf." Raphael spat out.
Elliot goggled even more. "And you fought it off?" He asked Gennyfer. "Him." she corrected. "Fought him off. The werewolf… the werewolf was my boyfriend."
Everyone's eyes widened at that, even Raphael's. "That's rough." remarked Kaelie, who had arrived with their drinks. Gennyfer shrugged, trying not to look upset.
"I think we're officially not dating anymore, you know, since he tried to rip my organs out and eat me."
Gennyfer was examining her drink so she missed the various looks that were shooting around the table. Well, not looks per say. Vampires are not known for being overly expressive but Raphael knew his clan mates well enough to read the slight expression they were showing.
Zeke's eyebrows were raised slightly at the matter-of-fact way Gennyfer had spoken. Elliot's lips were slightly parted and his eyes were wide with respect for the fledgling. Jez had a mouth set with sympathy. Finally, Lily had the tips of her fangs protruding slightly from her mouth for the same reason Raphael was clenching his jaw. As those in charge they felt protective of their new clan mate.
"Please tell me you killed that dog." Lily snarled to Raphael.
"Unfortunately not." Raphael growled in response, though in his head he was thinking up various ways to do just that. The werewolf would not get away with hurting the fledgling, even though she wasn't a fledgling at the time the hurting happened. Raphael couldn't remember the last time he had felt this protective of someone.
"What is this?" Gennyfer asked, breaking the rest of the vampires out of their stupors.
Raphael turned to look at her and saw that she was poking the surface of her drink with a straw.
"That is iced venison." Elliot informed her. Gennyfer blinked in confusion. "Beg pardon?"
"Deer blood." Raphael said, taking a sip of his own drink.
Gennyfer blinked again. Then she stuck the straw into her glass and sucked up a mouthful of the slushy-like blood. She swallowed, then proceeded to down half of her drink.
"Yum." she said, smiling with red-tinged teeth.
"You are strange." Jez stated, finishing off her pig's blood Bloody Mary. "The others will have bets going on how long it takes for you to think you are insane. You seem quite all right with this."
"I think I'm still in shock." Gennyfer confided. Then she yawned.
"Is blood supposed to make you tired?" she asked to no-one in particular. Lily tilted her head.
"The sun rises in an hour and a half." she informed them. Then she nodded towards Gennyfer. "That, and the lighting in here must be getting to the fledgling."
" 'm still awake." Gennyfer insisted. "And I can hear you."
Kaelie glided over and gave a tired smile. "Would you like the lights a bit dimmer?"
Raphael drained his glass. "Just for a few moments Kaelie, we should be going now."
"I'll bring the bill." The blond faerie drifted towards the counter. The other vampires finished their drinks.
"So, who's paying?" Jez asked. Everyone stared at her and then Lily rolled her eyes.
"You know you're paying Jez." Jez cracked a smile. "Just checking." she paid the bill and the party exited the diner. Raphael looked up at the sky and noted the positions of the stars.
"We'll have time to set you up with a room and introduce you to the rest of the clan before the sun rises." he said to Gennyfer who, even out of the light, was looking drowsy. Jez took her by one arm and Lily took the other.
"Let's get back to the hotel before Sleeping Beauty over there earns that nickname." Zeke suggested.
"Race you." Elliot challenged him. The two of them sped off. Lily and Jez rolled their eyes at the boys' antics and ran after them, half dragging Gennyfer between them. Raphael smiled, a smile that would have made any mundie watching think he was planning a murder, which in some parts of his brain he was. Then he took off after his clan mates.
A/N: This is the last completed stockpiled chapter that I have for this story, so updates will probably take even longer than they have been already. Sorry!
-Cynder2013
