I’ve never been on a train and my first experience is about to be much better than expected. Much like the carriage, I’m told to ride with Lord Makai in coach, which is beyond baffling to me. But when I take into consideration the gift of a dagger, I start to question the true reasoning behind the order.

So he’s ok with threatening me but not ok with others doing so? That is beyond confusing, but I’m not complaining. I never thought the day would come when I’d want to be in a train compartment with a vampire. I also never thought I’d be near a vampire again or even be in a train, and such a nice one at that.

Opening the door, the compartment is incredibly spacious and luxurious, nothing a commoner could ever dream of. There are four arm chairs made of plush red velvet with small endstands between them embellished with gold trims and gems that I question if they are authentic or not. On the shelves above are tightly shut cabinets with fine wine and snacks seen through the glass exterior. There are pillows and blankets stuffed beneath the chairs and golden railings above our heads for support. The privacy blinds for both the door and window are a soft gold and there’s even a small table by the window to eat a meal on.

I almost don’t want to sit, fearful I will stain the room with commoner cooties.

“Close the blinds,” Lord Makai orders.

I am too late though. Upon turning, there are two passengers walking by; a husband and wife. When the woman sees Lord Makai she gasps in horror, raising her gloved hand to her trembling lips. She looks as if she’s seen a demon; to her, Lord Makai might as well be. The husband scowls and tightens his hold around her trembling shoulders, pushing the both of them out of sight with a few quick strides.

I make a mental note to close the blinds, always, from now on.

After I take a seat by the door, Lord Makai raises a brow and asks, “Have you ever ridden a train before?”

I’m surprised by the question but still answer, “No, Your Grace.”

“Take the window seat then, unless you’re scared I’ll bite?”

My jaw drops. Did he just...joke with me?

It’s done before it even started, though. Lord Makai turns away without acknowledging that, yes, that was totally a joke. I’m so baffled that it takes me a few moments to finally sit across from him. His arm is perched on the edge of the windowsill, eyes fixated on the platform beside us. People are too busy scurrying about to take notice of the vampire quietly sitting behind the glass.

We’re both quiet, waiting patiently for boarding to finish. The engine roars to life and the occasional passenger outside the door walks by. Then there’s a knock; a man dressed in a blue uniform with gold buttons step into our compartment. With a bow, he says, “The train will be leaving the station shortly, Your Grace. Isabe should be reached by nightfall. The bar is open. It is located one car back.”

Lord Makai nods and the man leaves, closing the door behind him. Then, like he said, minutes later the train lurches forward. I clutch the arms of the chair at the sudden movement that nearly throws me out of my seat. Once again, Lord Makai smirks at my near mishap but says nothing.

The wheels slowly turn. We’re moving slower than a carriage yet I’m still fascinated. My nose is pressed against the glass while the platform disappears followed by the outskirts of the cold city, then we’re moving so fast that everything is a blur of buildings lessening and lessening into snow-covered forests. By then, the glass is fogged by my breath and I wipe it away with the back of my arm, refusing to turn away.

The horn blares. I jolt at the sound, swinging my head from side to side like I expect to see it. There’s the soft click of the wheels turning beneath us. The train itself feels like it’s humming beneath my feet, a living being moving and breathing. Suddenly, I’m thrilled to have accompanied Lord Makai. To him, a train ride is simple. To me, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Who knows how long I would have sat here watching the winter scenery if not for Lord Makai’s briefcase hitting my leg. I sat it beside the chair earlier and it fell over, reminding me why I’m here. I sit up quickly, looking to Lord Makai with wide eyes. Luckily, he’s not paying attention to me. He’s watching the scenery like I was.

“Would you like a drink, Your Grace?” I ask, happy that he didn’t call me out for basically forgetting about him for a few minutes. “There is some wine here I see, but if it’s not to your liking, I could head to the bar for you.”

“Look at you, taking the initiative. I’d say I’m impressed, but if the briefcase hadn’t hit you I doubt you’d have remembered.”

Shit. So he did notice.

Lord Makai gestures to the cupboard beside me, requesting the wine within. I’m quick to retrieve it and pour him a glass. It’s a deep red, one that reminds me of blood, oddly enough. How fitting.

And so begins our silent ride. Lord Makai actually finishes the entire bottle of wine but doesn’t look the least bit affected. His cheeks aren’t flushed nor are his actions changed so once again I’m curious if food or drink does anything for him. Is it the taste, or another attempt to seem human?

A few hours into our silent but certainly not unpleasant ride, a meal is brought to us.The server sets them before us, as equally confused about the two plates as I am. The server backs away with a bow and only leaves once Lord Makai excuses them. For a moment I think that he got himself two meals so I sit back and look out the window. The meal is steak, steaming hot and smells absolutely delicious, with a baked potato, and green beans.

“Eat,” Lord Makai orders, cutting carefully into his steak.

“It’s for me?”

“I am baffled by how stupid the majority of your questions are.”

I purse my lips. Ok, I’m getting free and probably amazingly delicious food so I can take that. Before I eat though, I pour Lord Makai another glass of wine like the somewhat decent butler that I am. He says nothing, of course.

When I take the first bite of my meal, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. It truly is delicious, but eating with Lord Makai makes me nervous. Higra taught me to eat “properly,” so she must have known we’d be sharing a meal at some point. But my hands are shaking and I keep scraping my fork or clinking it against the plate.

Lord Makai continuously glares.

“Did Higra not teach you any table manners?” He asks.

“She did. I—well, to be honest, I’m nervous.”

He snorts. The darkness of his eyes state he’s displeased, but the conversation ends there.

We eat in silence, save for my few mishaps, but I think I’m doing ok. I haven’t been thrown out of the compartment so I guess I’ve got a few good points, at least enough not to be ridiculed or lectured. When we’re finished with our meal, I head to the bar to inform the servers and they return to retrieve the dirty dishes.

The good food accompanied by the soft movement of the train is tiring. I’m not sure when it happens, but at some point I fall into a dreamless sleep.