“I get it,” Madeline said understandingly with a wave of her hand, trying the dismiss the topic from the rest of the conversation. “ ‘No such thing as a free lunch’, and all that crap. You don’t have to go into it any further.”

“Soooo, not performing tonight?” Levi asked Maseo, changing the subject.

“Not tonight,” Maseo answered. “Although Michael couldn’t stop himself from playing DJ, which means Gwen is floating around here somewhere too. I thought it would be nice to hang out without interruptions. Can I get either of you anything to drink?”

“Sure,” Levi answered.

Maseo signaled for a waitress and ordered sake.

“And what would you like, my dear?”

“A white russian would be fine, thank you,” Madeline replied.

Maseo added that to the order and also some finger foods.

“So this is Madeline….” Maseo mused, looking her over with inquisitive bronze eyes. “I heard about your little adventure. How odd.”

“We’re still trying to figure out the ‘why’ part. Anything you can glean off her?” Levi asked.

Madeline sat up straight, proper and hopeful.

“Well, I don’t see anything unusual about that gem,” he replied as he stared at it from a distance. “As you suspected already, it’s not a gate key.”

“A gate key?” Madeline asked.

“You haven’t really told her anything, have you?” Maseo asked Levi, surprised.

“Haven’t gotten that far yet. Not sure if I wanted to.”

“Considering her situation, you should,” Maseo urged. “And like I said, if she’s not what she appears to be, you can always get rid of her.” Maseo then turned to face Madeline apologetically. “No offense dear.”

“No worries, I wouldn’t trust me either given the circumstances.”

“A gate key is usually a charm that allows members of important families to use their family’s gate,” Maseo elaborated. “I have one, and so does Levi. I suppose you could consider a gate as somewhat of a special portal.”

Maseo grabbed onto a circular charm which hung around his neck. Framed within a silver circle were three smaller circles of equal size. Two at the bottom supported the one at the top in somewhat of a triangular shape, all three joined to the larger outer circle frame, but barely touched each other. He lifted it to show Madeline, prompting Levi to lift his as well, although not as enthusiastically.

“Getting back on track, anything else you can tell about her?” Levi continued the conversation, wanting to change the subject.

“Not without tasting her,” Maseo replied playfully.

Was Maseo a werewolf? Madeline could feel her wonder begin to reflect on her face and repressed it as quickly as she could. She went over in her mind what Levi had told her earlier. Maseo certainly didn’t seem like a shapeshifter. He didn’t appear to have any sort of animal characteristics, but she had met him a whole fifteen minutes ago, so it was hard to tell. His skin was a warm, healthy color too, so he couldn’t be undead. Maybe he was a fae? But fae didn’t consume people. As if he was reading her mind, he smiled at her and let her stare all she wished. After a considerable amount of time had passed, and seeing that she was still stumped, he leaned over and whispered into her ear.

“I’m a vampire.”

Just then, their drinks arrived, along with a variety of small dishes.

Madeline immediately went for her white russian and took a few deep gulps, but she didn’t allow the shock of Maseo’s words show on her face. What she didn’t understand was how he managed to look so healthy. Was he a really old vampire? That was the only logical explanation.

Ha ha, she laughed to herself. Logical.

“So yes, I could taste you and see if there is anything unusual.”

She weighed the risk. In such a public place, she was fairly certain nothing scary was going to happen to her. Certainly, nothing that would put her in danger. She didn’t fully trust Levi yet but didn’t think he would let her get drained by a vampire. At least she hoped he wouldn't.

After a few more seconds of contemplation, she made up her mind.

“Why the hell not,” Madeline replied. “Nothing weird has happened yet today. I was beginning to feel like something was wrong.”

Maseo smiled, amused by her words.

Levi rolled his eyes.

“I’ll just need your hand then,” Maseo said, holding out his own hand for her to rest her's in.

Madeline took another gulp of her drink and laid her hand palm up on top of Maseo’s, surprised it was so warm. Reaching into a pocket hidden within his shirt, he retrieved a small, silver lancet.

“LEVI!!!”

The shrill voice caused Madeline to jump in her seat, and Levi to squint his eyes, cringing as a strange woman draped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.

“Angelica,” Levi replied with a slightly forced smile. “Perfect timing. What say we dance for a bit?”

“Aw, just dancing?” The well-dressed brunette calling herself Angelica responded disappointedly.

“I have plans later that I can’t break,” Levi answered, sounding just as downtrodden as she was. “Unless you don’t want to dance?”

“I never said that!” she panicked, causing Levi to smirk.

Standing, he grabbed her hand a took her to the dance floor, their bodies disappearing into the sea of dancers.

“Does that happen a lot?” Madeline asked Maseo as he brought the lancet to the side of her index finger.

“You mean Levi with women? Yes, although I think this time it was more because of this...”

With a sharp prick, a drop of blood swelled in the spot Maseo lanced. He squeezed her finger twice to get a nice deep, red collection. Gently, he brought her finger to his mouth and kissed the crimson so that her blood stained his own lips. Partially closing his mouth, he drew air through his lips to get the full effect of the blood, much like a sommelier would do with wine. He then licked his lips to taste it.

“Well, you’re B-,” he surmised. "Although there is something that bothers me…”

“What?” Madeline asked, impatiently. She had to admit it was pretty amazing he could tell her blood type by taste, but she really wanted to know what the other more important revelation was.

“You seem to have the right amount of platelets, but I can’t taste some of them,” he answered. “I’m not sure if that means anything or not, but I’ve never come across it before, and I would dare say I am quite the epicurean. But you should eat some of those lettuce wraps before the beef gets cold. I hear they are amazing.”

It was Madeline’s turn to laugh now. The way he casually slipped from one topic to another was strangely comforting.

She grabbed one of the lettuce wraps and devoured it.

“Yep, they are good,” she replied. “Levi told me you can’t eat or drink normal food.”

“Nope, I haven’t been able to for a very long time. I can remember what sake tastes like though, and rice. Not much else though. And I have no idea what fast food tastes like. It was before my time.”

“Levi would say you’re not missing out on anything there,” Madeline laughed as she finished off her drink.

“Ah, so you’re already aware of his particular dietary choices,” Maseo chuckled, ordering her another drink.

“So how did you and Levi meet?” She asked, taking another bite.

“I prefer not to answer that,” Maseo replied with another smile, much to her disappointment.

“How old are you?”

“I also prefer not to answer that.”

“You aren’t easy to interview,” Madeline said sternly but continued to ask away. She also continued to drink, and Maseo continued to order her more. After four white russians, she wasn’t holding back on any questions.

“What is Levi, exactly,” she asked slurring her words.

“He’s a shapeshifter, dear,” Maseo replied.

“Yeah, but what kind?”

“That is something that can only be deduced by you, or revealed by him, so I can’t tell you that,” Maseo replied, very amused at how cute this human was when she was tipsy and surprised Levi hadn’t come to collect her yet. He didn’t see his friend on the dance floor anymore, and only assumed he had escaped somewhere with Angelica for something nefarious.

“I will give you a hint though,” he leaned in closer to her.

“Please!”

“His hips.”

“Hips?” Madeline asked, confused. “What the fuck is that suppose to mean?”

“Doesn’t he seem to move his hips a lot?” Maseo continued playing the game.

“Fuck yeah!” Madeline continued rambling, “Sometimes he walks like a fucking girl… He’s not gay, is he? Because that would suck!”

Maseo had to cover his mouth with his hand, to hide the fact he was laughing so hard. It was a dated Japanese reaction to hide an open laughing mouth and not come across as a western barbarian. The last time he’d had to do that, he’d covered his mouth with a fan.

“You have quite the filthy mouth, my dear.”

“I’ve been told that.”

“I bet you have,” Maseo continued, still covering his mouth. “But to answer your question, no, he isn’t gay.”

“Thank God,” Madeline exclaimed dramatically in relief.

“I take it you’ve fallen for him?” Maseo asked, his face turned serious for a moment, but Madeline didn’t catch it.

“Hell no. He’ll be begging me. Begging I tell ya!”

Madeline pounded a clumsy fist on the table for emphasis, causing Maseo to break out into a fit of laughter just as Levi came back to the table, thankfully without Angelica.

“SHHHHHhhhh… there he is…” she mumbled in Maseo’s direction.

Taking one look at Madeline and then at Maseo, Levi literally plopped down into the booth and face-palmed.

“Maseo… why did you let her drink so much?” he asked, exasperated.

“She was thirsty?”

“Yeah,” Madeline added.

“She’s quite entertaining,” Maseo chuckled.

“Yeah… wait… what the fuck is that suppose to m …”

Levi put his hand over Madeline’s mouth, cutting short her developing tirade towards Maseo.

“She’s going to be quite a handful, Levi,” Maseo spoke seriously now. “My instincts tell me she’s a good person, but there’s something dangerous about this whole situation. You sure about what you’re doing?”

“It’ll be fine,” Levi replied. “Find anything?”

“Her platelets are… odd,” Maseo revealed. “Count seems normal, but most of them have no taste. None. I’ve never come across that.”

Levi thought about what that could possibly mean, but he honestly had no clue.

“I should take her home,” Levi sighed as he looked at Madeline’s elegantly wasted state, releasing his palm from her mouth. “She’s a mess. Thanks, Maseo.”

“Anytime” Maseo smiled innocently as if nothing has happened. “I assume you’re coming to the holiday party?”

“Yeah, I’ll be here. You might as well give me a sponsor pass for Madeline. I’m guessing nothing is going to resolve itself before then.”

“I figured as much,” Maseo said, reaching into the same inner pocket he pulled the lancet from earlier. He retrieved a silver medallion and tossed it to Levi. “Just write your crest on it and see that she wears it. Oh, and have a good night.”

“Whatever,” Levi muttered under his breath as he stuffed the medallion in his front pant pocket and then offered his hand to Madeline to help her out of the booth. She slid out okay but was a bit wobbly on her feet as she stood. Nothing that would have caused a scene, but Levi held out his arm for her to take, which was a gentleman’s way of saying 'let me help you so you don’t fall down'. She accepted it but was trying to stare at his waist for some reason, which made walking next to her a bit difficult. About halfway to the exit, Levi actually had to yank her arm to get her to focus her gaze ahead toward where they were walking, instead of on his hips, oblivious to Maseo chuckling behind him.

The cold night air helped clear her head a little bit, but she still had some trouble getting into the taxi with Levi. She stayed silent for the duration of the drive back to the condo and also in the half minute ride up the elevator. When she stepped into the living room, she turned to face Levi, eyes glazed over and sleepy.

“Sorry I drank so much,” she attempted to apologize as she walked back towards her room, still unsteady on her feet.

“It’s not entirely your fault. Maseo is an enabler of sorts. He used to work at a host club in Japan years ago, so keeping the drinks coming is second nature to him. Or at least that will be the excuse he’ll use if I yell at him tomorrow.”

“And about you feeding on desire…”

“What about it?” Levi asked suspiciously. From personal experience, this was usually followed by ‘why do you need to feed on other girls when you have me’, or ‘I consider that cheating, so you have to stop’. A couple of times it was even ‘you’re a pervert!’ with a slap to the face. This was why he didn’t date.

“It’s no biggie,” she said with half closed eyes. “It’s not like you hurt anybody.”

Spinning around, she almost fell as she stepped into her room and closed the door. To be honest, there was a part of her that was jealous, though she had no right to be. Imagining him enticing desire in girls like Angelica caused a twist of uneasiness in her stomach. Or was that the white russians? She wasn’t sure at this point. Clumsily unstrapping her heals, she fumbled with the zipper on the dress and managed to get it off on her own. Wiggling out of it, she let it slip to the carpet and stepped out of it moments before collapsing into bed.