Blythe was tired of people screaming. It was all a big misunderstanding of course, and she was just wiping red wine from her hands. All the same, the bathroom door slammed behind her as a woman ran for her life.

Even more exhausting matters followed when Blythe dried her hands and followed her out. There were staff and bystanders gathered around to confront her, with faces like villagers carrying pitchforks. They stared angrily, and fearfully at the stain on her dress.

Blythe had intended to explain the situation, but at the same time, she didn’t really see why she should have to. This kept happening, and she was tired of explaining herself when she had done nothing wrong.

So instead of giving a proper explanation, she decided to have a little fun. She flashed a charming smile, her fangs glinting in the dull electric light of the dining room. There was a general murmur and the word ‘vampire’ start to be muttered in hushed tones from all corners. It swarmed around her like bees, from both the kitchens and from the little candlelit tables. A nervous looking staff member came up to her and said, “Madam, I’m afraid we are going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Oh, is there a problem?” Blythe replied casually, brushing her dress innocently.

“You are upsetting the other customers,” answered her accuser.

“I suppose my charms can be quite overwhelming to some,” Blythe continued, spinning around to show off her outfit. She was quite sure that everyone could agree she was the best dressed person in the building. She brought a class and sophistication that was very much lacking in some of the other diners. It was a shame, so much had changed, and now all around her the buildings were drab and simplistic, and of course, people’s manners these days were terrible. She could only sigh. Clearly much culture has been lost since the nuclear war.

“Do I need to call security madam?”

“Oh, you are very sweet but I don’t think any of these people could do me any real harm,” Blythe observed, looking out at the sea of angry eyes.

Her financial manager, Mr Green, came rushing up with her handbag and his coat, having abandoned their meal and table. He was an elder gentleman, in his late 70s, with silver hair and kindly eyes. He had been a very handsome, if somewhat arrogant young man when she had hired him 50 years ago, but time had tempered him, and his looks. Meanwhile, the years had done nothing to her, she still wore the same fresh-faced look she had processed when she had died at age 25. Not that it did her any real favours. Ever since she had woken from her long slumber not a single guy had proposed an engagement or even a dalliance. She could only assume they all humbly felt they could not meet her standards, or were intimidated by her unnatural allure. On the whole, they would have been correct.

“I think we should depart,” said Mr Green, and she allowed him to take her arm and escort her to the door. She smiled and waved to her grumbling audience as she gracefully exited.

Things were not much better outside, two police officers were already approaching to greet them as they got to the street.

“We’ve received a report that a vampire attacked someone in the restroom of this establishment,” the taller one announced, looking meaningfully at her smooth, pale skin. The other stood ready, with portable radio in hand, prepared to call backup if she became violent.

“It’s a simple misunderstanding”, Blythe said. She could continue the games, but she didn’t actually want to end up arrested. Not again. At least, not until she had a better understanding of how things worked now. Mr Green quietly leaned in to say he was going to make a call, and then stepped aside. She remained very curious about these mobile telephones that people in this strange future used. She had seen them used for all manner of things too, not just telephony.

“Care to explain the situation, vampire?” The tall police officer demanded. Blythe caught the contempt in the officer’s final word. It seemed the world hadn’t changed much from what she remembered after all.

“I entered the lavatory to wash my hands. That is all. Being that I do not process a reflection, the other woman in there did not notice me until I was at the basin next to her. She was shocked at my sudden appearance, and assumed I was sneaking up on her. That is all there is to the matter.”

The police officer looked skeptical. “So you deny any attack happened?”

“I do.”

The police officer looked at their colleague and told them to go inside and take a statement from the people there. Blythe could only hope none of them lied about it, but who knew how things worked now. It was hard to predict whether there was still honour and truth in a society made up only of the survivors of a great destruction.

“Where do you live?” The Police Officer asked her.

“Here, in Surrey. My home address no longer exists so I am staying at a paranormal refuge until everything can be worked out. I only arrived from London a few days ago.”

The Police Officer looked confused. He glanced at Mr Green as he finished his phone call.

“She was in a vampiric hibernation. She’s been asleep for 50 years and is a bit confused about things,” Mr Green said.

“I am not confused. That woman was confused,” she said, gesturing back at the restaurant.