42

The first group of vampires that Kendra approached fell silent as she joined them.  

She began her campaign to gain their trust with, “Well, this is a nice party, isn’t it?”  That earned her a complete set of stiff smiles.  Maybe I can’t do this.  Kendra stifled the doubt, and turned to the vampire who seemed to be the oldest.

“Have you known Regis long?”

The vampires shuffled a bit.  “He has been a vampire for only five years,” said a vampire with longish blond hair who looked about sixteen.  “I have known Regis for over three-hundred years.”

“Ah.”  Kendra had nothing more to say.  The vampires smirked.  Her cheeks burned.  She longed to run back up to her room.  Kendra studied the floor for one long, pained moment, then turned to search the ballroom for Alex.  She was ready to give in to the desire for escape, but as she raised her eyes she noticed the intricate fractal on one of the  neckties in front of her.

“Fascinating,” she breathed, and tried to sound it though she knew the pattern well.  “That’s Melinda Green’s Buddhabrot.”  The sentence fell flat.  Doing her best to channel LB, Kendra stepped forward and touched the soft silk tie.  The vampire who wore it, a dark-haired fellow who must have been a banker in his thirties when he…say it…died, stiffened at her proximity. 

Panicked, Kendra searched the gray jelly of her brain for her next move.  Scooby Do reruns were of no help.  Her thoughts flew to movies she had seen:  Bette Davis in All About Eve--too Machiavellian, mix in a little Katherine Hepburn in Adam’s Rib--too familiar.  Throw in some Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman--okay. 

“Wherever did you find it?” she cooed in what she hoped was a tone that any man, straight or gay, dead or alive, would find flattering.   

Banker vamp loosened up.  He launched into a story about a recent shopping trip to Florence, Italy, and an adorable shop on the Ponte Vecchio.   

Kendra nodded and smiled in all the right places.  Vampires really were more handsome when animated in conversation.  One of the others in the group broke in, “but no,” he objected, “the Via del Ghirlandaio runs in one direction, away from the Arno.”

 Kendra thought she detected a faint Italian accent in his speech.  “Do you live in Italy?” she asked.  

“I lived in Florence from the time of Dante until the British invaded America for the second time.  I followed the Rolling Stones to New York.”  He winked.  Kendra jerked a little in surprise.  Vampires winked?

The group laughed.  Kendra waved in farewell, and moved on to the next group.  She recognized one of the vampire leaders who had attended Regis’ private meeting, and introduced herself, channeling Katherine Hepburn all the way.  All the vampires knew who she was, of course, but she didn’t know any of them.  She did her best to remember all their names, but the strain of being charming made it impossible to remember more than the high-powered vamp’s name, Daniel Weinstein.  

“Ms. Tanagawa,” he asked after introductions had been made.  “Is it true that you have travelled back in time?”

Kendra searched his face for some clue as to how, or if, she should answer that question.  Daniel’s face remained impassive.  Desperately, she looked for Alex, but many vampires seem to have heard Daniel’s question.  They thronged around Daniel, and watched Kendra’s face.  She stopped looking for Alex, and reviewed the vows she had taken.  

“Um, Daniel, are you a member of the northern California community of vampires?”  

In a flash Regis and Alex were on either side of her.  

“I hope you’re not talking shop, Daniel,” Regis said quietly, and then more softly still, “because that would break our agreement.”

“No, no,” Daniel said, and held up one hand in protest.  “I’m just taking the measure of this human, in whom you have convinced us to place so much trust.”

“Alex will supervise--”

“Forgive me, Regis,” Alex interrupted, “but Kendra and I will work together.”

“Yes, well,” Daniel coughed once, “you see the reason for my concern, Regis.  Alex seems rather taken with young Ms. Tanagawa.  How do we know he will maintain objectivity?”  He laughed mirthlessly, but peered intensely from Regis to Alex.  The vampires surrounding him stared just as pointedly, their gazes occasionally raking across Kendra too.  She did her best not to flinch.  They seemed to have completely shaken off her attempts to charm them.  

“Daniel, vampires in your community of southern California may allow feelings to conquer judgement, but we in the north know better.  Many of us have studied science and mastered at least some of the new technologies.  You fear change so much that you have yet to buy one computer.”

Daniel crossed his arms, and tried to look insulted.  LB would have done it better.  Kendra looked down to hide her smile.

Regis continued, “Come for the quarterly meetings.  If you wish it,” he said raising his voice and gesturing with both hands to all those present, “I will send you monthly updates, but do not interfere with the work or the scientists who will do it.”  Regis bowed his head slightly at Alex and Kendra.  “Our continued existence depends upon them.” 

Daniel inclined his head in acquiescence, then left the room.  Ten vampires left with him.  Regis swept one arm in an arc that included everyone.  “This is a celebration,” he announced in jovial tones.  “Enjoy yourselves, please.”

Although the party had been without music prior to that, it started from the front of the room somewhere.  Kendra saw that Thomas was again at the piano, playing some jazz.

Alex spun her into his arms.  He led her into a sexy sort of waltz.  Bearing in mind that the whole room would most likely hear everything she said even if she whispered, Kendra pretended to be willing to both dance and to participate in the collaboration with Alex.  

“So, partner, when do I get a look at this lab of ours?”

Alex put enough space between them to be able to see her face.  He looked pleasantly surprised.  “We can go any time you like.”

“And when do we start work?”

“The sooner the better.”

“In that case, lets go see the lab now.”

It seemed she had played her cards right.  Regis nodded his approval as they passed him on their way to the hall that led to the kitchen.  Every eye in the room was on them.  Most held expressions of trust or hope, but some seemed bored or disdainful.  One vampire with long hair drawn into a thin ponytail slouched in a corner at the front of the room.  The malevolence in his look made Kendra take Alex’s arm.  Ponytail vamp smiled as he held Kendra’s eye.  It was an evil smile.