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"Those aren’t the words I’d use to describe it, no But it is certainlymore natural"

"Natural, like…nature?"

"Yes The trees you noticed"

"Oh right, yeah" I nodded in thought "Kind of boring, though But then, I haven’t ht still be surprised"

"By surprised, you ht try to kill you, or run from you, within the hour?"

"Exactly, yes One can only hope"

We walked past a few businesses before stopping in front of a blue establishht, I opened the red door to a packed house What wasbreakfast

"Oh, I like this place," I said as Darius directed h over a counter that said Please wait to be seated

A woman with rosy cheeks and frizzy hair stopped behind the counter, peering at us over her half-moon spectacles Her eyes stuck to Darius for a ht of her assessical in some way She kneith a vampire, I could tell, and wondered if I was merely food

I really hoped I didn’t end up as food

"Table for two, please," Darius said in a bored voice

"Of course" I got another eyeball before she carabbed two menus out of a holder "Follow me I’ll seat you in the back It’s quieter there"

"No, no," I said, stopping her "If you have soreat We can wait"

She glanced at Darius before turning to survey the restaurant Sheets of paper crowded the walls, all sporting handht and booths were stationed on the left, all occupied So there wasback there, not visible fro That was probably where she’d hoped to stash us Out of sight

"You’re pretty popular, then," I said as she checked things out

"When people wake up, they like to co, so, like your friend there, assuht"

"Oh, he’s not my friend He’s my possessive stalker on’t take a hint"

She turned back to me in surprise A smile flirted with her lips "Give me two seconds Let me clear a space"

"She doesn’t like vampires," I said when she bustled away "Did you catch that? She was not excited about a nice girl such asa leather outfit with a sword, gun, and fanny pack strapped to your person What about that look says nice girl?"

I ignored the dig on my pouch "Yes, fine But I fit in And you are still not liked I win"

He lancing at it longingly A moment later, he pulled his phone from his back pocket and et What’s up?" I asked

"I’m ready for you," the hostess said before Darius could answer I caught Darius’s apprehensive look before it cleared His hand found the s me behind the hostess until we arrived at a booth some ways down The previous occupants were headed around the bend, holding half-filled plates and not-quite-finished beers

"You didn’t need to chase anyone out," I said

"They’re regulars They don’tan elder what he wants can work out badly for shop owners" She pursed her lips at Darius before setting the riht with you to take your order And a word of advice--walk away" Her eyes flicked toward Darius "The benefits aren’t worth the rewards"