"I hope you're hungry," Diane called out as she spotted him.

"I am," Gabriel said, "but not in the way you think."

"You don't eat normal food at all?" Diane asked.

"I don't have to," Gabriel explained, "But I do enjoy trying new things, as I have a very fine pallet."

"Set the table then," Diane ordered, not taking her eyes off her the pan she was cooking on.

"Yes Ma'am," Gabriel said, as he started to set the table. He knew better than to not listen to a woman in the kitchen. Just as he was finis.h.i.+ng the setting, Diane arrived with the food and placed it in the middle of the table.

"Looks delicious," Gabriel said, sitting down at the table.

"Thank you," Diane replied, also sitting. "For someone who doesn't eat much, you sure had a good supply here to pick from."

"To be honest," Gabriel retorted, "I have been building my supply up since meeting your sister, just in case. If I didn't need it, I would have just donated to the town at a later time."

"Good plan," Diane said, "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will," Gabriel said with a smile, "Who taught you and your sister how to cook so well?"

"My mother," Diane replied, "She taught us in an effort to keep us off the front lines and away from the undead."

"A wise strategy," Gabriel said, "But I'm confused; I could have swore I heard Alyssa say something about her mom dying during childbirth."

"That was her mom," Diane replied, "My mom managed to survive until she died of an infection a five years ago."

"That explains it, half sisters," Gabriel concluded. "I should have guessed."

"In this world, half is better than none," Diane countered.

Gabriel raised a gla.s.s, "I'll toast to that."

The rest of the meal was relatively quiet, and Gabriel didn't drink any blood to be respectful to Diane. He would drink a pint after she went to bed. He was was.h.i.+ng the dishes when the young girl walked up to the big island in the kitchen and took a stool.

"Pablo said there were other monsters," she informed him, "But he was hesitant to talk about the witches. Why?"

"Witches prefer to stay in New Salem," Gabriel explained, "So if you see one away from the city, odds are that hag was banished from the city and is a extra bad apple from an already sour tree. The witches that wander do not leave a good impression of those still in the city. The odd time I have encountered one, it wasn't a pleasant experience."

"Doesn't seem very fair," Diane started, "For a creature known to consume human blood to survive to generalize other creatures like that."

"Touché," Gabriel said, getting her point. Every creature had their good and bad apples, especially vampires. All he had to do was think of his brother for proof of that.

"I don't mean to generalize," Gabriel continued, "But the ones wandering around have given the rest in the witches a very bad rap. I'm sure there are probably some nice ones out there, but I've yet to meet even one thus far."

"How long have you been living here?" Diane asked.

"Since the city was deserted," Gabriel answered, "I found this place about a year after the outbreak, and the owner was already dead and roaming around in circles. He was even still wearing his cowboy hat, because he was a country singer."

"A what?" Diane asked

"Before your time, I get it." Gabriel said, laughing.

"How old are you?" Diane inquired, unafraid to ask.

"A lot of people want to know, but are afraid to ask." Gabriel noted, "but I'm over two thousand years old. So two millennium, and change."

"Wow, you've been around." She noted.

"I've seen a few things," Gabriel noted, "And back then there were a few times I thought the world might end. The black plague, the Cuban missile crisis, and even the three world wars. But each time mankind managed to shake it off and move forward. So even in this dark time, I'm confident we'll make it through."

"That's a nice way to look at it," Diane admitted, "I've never heard someone speak about our future like that."

"Like what?" Gabriel asked.

"With optimism." Diane answered, "Almost hopeful."

"I think your sister picked up on that too," Gabriel admitted, "but she refused to admit it to anyone."

"You really like her, don't you?" Diane then asked.

"Wow," Gabriel said, as he stopped the dishes for a second. "You really don't beat around the bush, do you?"

"Whatever that means," Diane said, "You didn't answer the question."

"Yes, she's nice." Gabriel said, "I like her company. I haven't been around someone like that in a while."

"Define a while," Diane asked.

"A few hundred years," Gabriel added, "But we're just friends right now. I'm not really in that much of a hurry to make it anything else. I like having new friends."

"You're also immortal," Diane noted, "You can afford to be patient."

"That too," Gabriel agreed, "We are know for our patience, but not all of us have it. My brother would be a prime example of that exception to the rule."

"You have a brother?" Diane asked, "How old is he?"

"He's double my age," Gabriel said, "And like you and your sister, we have different mothers, which is why he's far more powerful than I am."

"Why does that make a difference?" Diane asked.

"Bloodlines," Gabriel answered, "The purer your bloodline is, the stronger you are as a result. Cornelius was born when lines were at their strongest. I was born in a century when things were messy and chaotic. I'm strong and have the same powers, but he's just at an insane level. Some would argue he's the strongest vampire in the entire world."

"Wow, that is intense." Diane said, thinking about it. "How powerful is he?"

"He can cross the ocean without ever needing to land," Gabriel told her. "I can't last half that long in the air, and he's faster too. He can clear that distance in less than a few hours."

"That's almost as fast as the concord," Diane said, thinking about it.

"That would explain the pointy nose," Gabriel said, laughing.

Later in the night, Gabriel flew Diane back to her town. As they landed softly on the roof, there was someone waiting for them. Alyssa was standing here, arms folded with a look that reminded Diane of her mom.

"Hey guys," Alyssa said, giving a half smile, "Have fun out there?"

"Yeah, we did." Gabriel said, smiling back. "You okay?"

"I'm alright," Alyssa replied, "Pablo told me what you guys were up to."

"It was so neat," Diane said, hugging her sister. "There were so many undeads below. They were like a chorus off murmurs. So creepy and yet so lulling."

"Well it's getting late," Alyssa informed her sister, "Get ready for bed."

"Alright," Diane replied before turning to face Gabriel, "Thanks for the ride."

"It was fun," Gabriel concurred, "Good night."

They watched Diane disappear back into the building, and he looked back at Alyssa with an innocent smile.

"You're not upset, are you?" he asked.

"No," Alyssa answered, "I trust you."

"This put her at ease," Gabriel explained, "And she's comfy with Nashville just in case we ever have to move you guys there. I thought it was a good exercise to get her comfortable with my secret."

"You don't have to sell it," Alyssa said, "I'm just happy that you and Pablo have appeared to have gotten her back out of her sh.e.l.l. I appreciate that."

"Happy to help," Gabriel said, relieved to not be in the dog house.

"We do need to get back to work," Alyssa reminded him, "The mayor expects us to get back out there and get supplies."

"We can do that," Gabriel replied, "We can fly out to one of the cities on the east coast, and trade over there. We should be safe enough to venture out again."

"Sounds good," Alyssa said, "I think Pablo wants to speak to you as well."

"Alright," Gabriel said as he followed her inside.

Across the street, checking out the roof from her window was an old woman. She was knitting something and listening in on what was happening across from her. Her senses were profound and made her able to hear in on words not meant for anyone else. As she was knitting, a black cat pranced over and sat down in the chair beside her and purred a bit before making a few sounds.

"You're far too paranoid," the old woman replied, "We have no proof they're hunting for us. They could be just trying to get by like we are."

The cat made another sound, one that emphasized his frustration.

"Your objection is noted," she said, "And overruled."

The cat leapt off he chair and pranced away, unhappy with how the conversation was going. The old woman laughed and continued to knit, content with her decision and stance concerning the vampire across the street.