Sigman Van Horn looked in the mirror of the bathroom as he shaved. The foamy cream guided his razor because the rest of him was invisible. It was okay as he started, but by the end he was just guessing. The candles were lit and while they gave the apartment a romantic ambiance, it was a necessity too. He pulled on his black slacks, dress shirt and shoes and imagined his date would look into his eyes rather soon into the evening. His brother, Amwolf, knocked on the bathroom door, and Sigman opened it. His brother had on scrubs and was headed for work.
“So, you have a date?” Amwolf asked.
“How else will I get a meal now that I've lost my strength? You've gotten back yours, two last night, you're back in action.”
Amwolf smiled. “It feels so good to be back in full form.”
“I wish I could hunt rather than date my game. It loses that pizzazz when I have to talk to my meal.”
Amwolf said, “Yes, well I think this will be the last week you're on a restricted diet.”
“You're lifting it?”
“After tonight, yes.”
“I could kiss you!”
Amwolf said, “Don't you dare!”
The doorbell rang.
“How do I look?” asked Sigman.
“Like a tiger,” Amwolf said.
“Growl!”
***
The windless day worried Liam Abraham. He offered shelter for the two frightened sisters for a week and still the twin vampires were quiet. Why hadn't they come out of hiding? He was glad for Kelly's sake and her nerves were finally calm as the nightmare she endured seemed to be ending. Yet Liam wondered.
The police log offered no real hints, but then again, it was likely that the city was hiding the killings. The tourists took pictures of the Liberty Bell and the cobbled streets were filled after the panic of the previous month quieted. Men, women, and children strolled through the fallen leaves covering the ground and many had taken off their jackets that balmy October day.
Blades of grass poked out between bricks and leaves along the street and the sun beat down imposing its dominance on the inhabitants of the city. Sunlight meant no Draculan would be lurking down alleyways or in shadows of building. Philly was a sunny place, a peculiar choice for vampires. If he'd guess, the pair must have jobs somewhere in the city, and somewhere not too far from the attacks, otherwise it was too risky to live there. He made his way back from his insurance office to his apartment.
Kelly promised to cook for him. Liam smiled. It was different for him, unusual to find somebody there at the end of the day. It had been that way once a long time ago for a time, but when he flew off to find Draculans, he returned to discover her belongings were gone and she had left town. It was the way it was and he was used to keeping his life quiet, even if it meant he would remain alone.
Keeping secrets wasn't a way to win somebody's love, or trust. Yet now he had no secrets from Kelly. He looked forward to the end of the day, to her smile, to her soft voice full of interest at what he said. Liam smiled to himself.
He got to his door and when he opened it, instead of a smiling Kelly, he found a note. She wrote that she had been called to the Soup Kitchen by Sister Maryann who needed her help to process ten new clients. Sister had a meeting that couldn't wait, and the homeless men needed dinner.
Sweat began to collect on the small of his back. She was out at dusk. He raced back to his bedroom, grabbed his dagger, ran out of the apartment, and past a bewildered Leola who was getting off the elevator.
“Hold that elevator!” Liam shouted.
“What's wrong?” Leola asked as she held the door.
“I got to go to the shelter. I've got to hurry,” Liam said.
“Stupid Kelly! I'm coming too.”
***
Kelly checked her phone and then she stepped out of the cab. Leola texted her to say wait for her inside the mission. The sun was setting and the buildings' long shadows filled the space of the alleys. Kelly thought of her attack inside the alley, one like this one, dumpsters ready and available to collect death before light cast the deeds into the conscience of mankind.
A homeless man whose body odor made him unbearable to stand near opened the door for her. The dirty and broken pockets hanging off his jacket worked double time as gloves for poverty was the father of invention.
“Good evening, Kelly. We haven't seen you here for a spell.”
“Hey Jack. I'm glad to see you're doing okay.” Kelly said. “Be careful tonight. Make sure you stay away from the alleys, okay? Sleep near the church or the shelter.”
Jack smiled at her with his broken teeth giving him a jack-o-lantern aura.
“Sure, I'll stay near the shelter.”
“I mean it. No alleys. Promise? There are dangers there...”
“Sure, can do.”
“Good.” Kelly shook his hand. “I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Understand?”
“Bad? Like living on the streets?” He let out a roaring laugh.
“Like dying in the alley,” Kelly said in a quiet voice.
“Dying ain't the worst thing to happen to a soul. You and the good nun know it better than most. The worst thing is never lovin' somebody.”
Kelly looked at old, broken Jack. How was it wisdom lived where nobody thought to look?