The purpose of The Order had been to cause chaos, to step out of the shadows and see just how much the town would give them. With the mysterious drug Bliss at his disposal, it had seemed a simple thing to draw others to his cause. Instead, it only led to unfocused and downright boring followers.

It occurred to him that he could probably make a killing opening up a modern day vampiric opium den, but he wasn’t quite ready to retire just yet. He still wanted the thrill of the hunt, to indulge in the art form again. Part of him wondered if it wasn’t time to pack up shop and move on to a new location.

Ruth: “What kind of trouble are you getting yourself into this time, Peterson?”

Chris slowly turned toward the voice and found himself staring into a vision from his past.

Ruth: “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!”
Chris: “I think I might just be looking at one right now.”

The tall, slender blonde rapped the table next to her three times.

Ruth: “No, I’m pretty solid.”
Chris: “Ruth? Ruth Breckenridge?”
Ruth: “Who the hell else would I be?”

Chris stood in stark disbelief, unable to move or draw a breath.

Chris: “It can’t be. It cannot possibly be you.”
Ruth: “Jesus, Peterson! It’s only been a week or two; you’re acting like you ain’t seen me in years!”
Chris: “It’s been several decades, Ruth. Don’t you remember?”
Ruth: “I remember you ran out on me without even a backwards glance and left me hanging. You’re lucky those cops didn’t blow me to bits.”

Chris winced at the sharp sting of a long-forgotten memory resurfacing.

Chris: “Except they did.”
Ruth: “Again, I’d like to point out that I’m feeling pretty solid right now. I don’t appear to be riddled with bullet holes or nothing. What I want to know is why you want to make up such a stupid story like you want to be rid of me.”
Chris: “I don’t know why you’re here now, but seventy-some years ago I watched a group of cops shoot you down like a dog. That’s not something that’s easy to mistake.”
Ruth: “And I’m telling you that’s not what happened. You turned tail and ran off! It’s only been a couple weeks, you dumbass.”

Chris: “Take a look around, ducky. Time’s marched on without you, and it’s been marching for a bit longer than two or three weeks.”
Ruth: “What are you trying to pull? This bar may be a rundown shit hole, but it’s the same as it’s always been.”
Chris: “You mean to tell me that nothing seems even the slightest bit different around here?”

Ruth: “Peterson—“
Chris: “Just take a good look around. Tell me what you see.”

Ruth turned around in a slow, exaggerated motion.

Ruth: “Dirty tables, dirty chairs, dirty floor, some flies…”
Chris: “What color are the walls, Ruthy?”
Ruth: “Dirty wood colored.”
Chris: “Are you absolutely positive they aren’t blood red?”

Chris watched as her expression changed from one of merely humoring him to bewilderment, as if watching a magician’s trick.

Ruth: “Wow. Hey that’s some trick!”
Chris: “Not exactly where you thought you were, are you?”
Ruth: “It’s a bit different, sure, but I still don’t believe your story. After all, you still look exactly the same. Well, aside from that ridiculous outfit. You take up farming or something?”
Chris: “No, and I know that when I explain why I haven’t changed in seventy years you’re just going to laugh yourself sick.”
Ruth: “I could use a good laugh.”
Chris: “I’m a vampire.”

As expected, Ruth instantly burst into riotous laughter. It was several minutes before she regained control, wiping tears from her sharply blue eyes.

Ruth: “Oh, that’s rich. And to think you almost had me believing you! Seventy years… Still not sure why you’d go through all the trouble with the smoke and mirrors just because you bailed on me, but OK.”
Chris: “It’s all true, Ruthie.”
Ruth: “Yeah? Then prove it, because you cannot expect me to buy that nonsense!”

Chris smiled good-naturedly, simultaneously allowing his canines to grow while the grey of his eyes changed to a deep and intense red.

Ruth: “Oh. My god.”
Chris: “Want to go get a drink?”