Violet sat in the passenger seat of Bill’s big black Mercedes. He had picked her up at sun down and he looked over the beautiful black dress she was wearing. He had been looking forward to Valentine’s Day and had planned something wonderful for her.
All Violet knew was to dress up and bring her appetite. That had all sorts of connotations, but she simply decided to relax. Since he loved her glossy black hair, she left it straight and natural. She did have her nails done and went for a facial and massage, all a gift arranged for her by the man driving the car.
Bill was dressed in a dark slate blue suit, which made more of his coloring and he smelled of Grey Flannel. He glanced at her as he drove.
“You look beautiful tonight Violetta,” he said, his voice caressing her name.
“Thank you, Bill, you look great too,” she said. “I love the suit. The color suits you.”
“Have you ever had Creole food? I have arranged a lovely Creole meal for you,” he said.
“I have had Creole food,” she said. “I love shrimp etouffee.”
“And of course I thought we would go dancing,” he suggested. Violet loved to dance with Bill. She often thought about dancing with him at Yule and at GS’s house party for the Autumnal Solstice. He was a wonderful dancer. “I think about dancing with you all the time.” It was as though he was reading her mind.
“Are you reading my thoughts?” she asked.
“I heard your heart beating faster when I mentioned the dancing,” he said. His hand slid between the short breech between them and took her small hand in his and twined his fingers with hers.
“Is nothing a secret for you?” she asked.
“I have only begun to explore your mysteries sweetheart,” he said, pulling her hand up to his lips and kissing it, enjoying the warmth of her skin on his cool lips. Her heart skipped a beat and he smiled.
The restaurant was one of those exclusive places with a high end menu written in French. Ma Cherie had been catering to the needs of Vampires and their human companions for a long time. It was said the woman who owned the restaurant was made Vampire when Bill’s grandfather was a twinkle in his mother’s eye. Since then she had catered to the needs of Vampires and their human friends. Of course before the time of Tru:Blood, there had been willing blood meals for the Vampires to partake in private dining rooms, and this was still available but now, they could sit back, relax and have a bottle of Blood while their dates ate their meal. They also stocked premium Royalty and Royalty Blend for the connoisseur. But these were things Violet need not know a lot about. This was a magikal night and Bill wanted nothing to discomfort her.
Violet knew at once the hostess was a Vampire and she nodded at the woman as she greeted Bill and then led them to a discrete area. All the tables were carefully shielded for privacy. She handed Bill a short card, like a wine list. He looked at it. “Royalty, premium,” he said. And then she handed him what Violet knew was a wine list and he pointed to a vintage and she asked “Bottle or glass?” He confirmed that it would be a bottle and she nodded and headed away to the bar.
A few minutes later a waiter came to the table and he handed Violet a menu. It was written in French.
“Uh oh,” she said, scanning the menu.
“What is it?” asked Bill.
“I don’t know what I am ordering, I can’t read the menu,” she said. Bill extended his hand and began to explain the dishes to her. She chose the broiled tilapia with the sweet potato crust and Bill, in a throatier voice than she had ever heard him use, ordered the meal for her in French. She looked amazed.
“You speak French?” she said.
“Yes,” he said. “I have acquired just enough French to have a conversation. Of course they laugh at my formal speech, but, it serves me.”
“I think it was beautiful,” she said. The hostess came back with the wine and poured Violet a sip to taste it. It was a lovely red wine, cool and sweet, Madeira. She nodded her approval and extended her glass and the hostess poured it and set the bottle on the table and left. She took another sip and he leaned forward and took her hand and pulled her to him. He leaned closer and he smelled the wine on her lips. He kissed her gently, his lips tasting hers with the slightest flicker of his tongue.
“Now that was beautiful, chere,” he said.
Violet thought she would be uncomfortable to eat while her companion sat there, sipping from his wine glass, but he chatted with her so easily while she ate she scarcely paid attention to the fact that he simply sat there drinking his meal. After supper, they brought her a cup of the famous Creole Cit Git coffee, rich, thick and sweet and a plate of Bananas Foster, butter and rum sautéed bananas on a slice of pound cake, topped with ice cream and the rum caramel.
After she finished her supper, Bill paid the tab, tipping very generously and they stepped out into the night. He unlocked the door for her and opened it for her to slide in. Vampire he may be, but she noted that he looked at her legs as she slid carefully into the seat. He shut the door and went around the car and got in.
They drove to a place on the water. It was very likely something that had been a Juke Joint in the 20’s and perhaps Bill had been there then. Now it was a lit up little dance hall. Bill parked and got out, and opened the door for Violet and led her down a short gang plank to the screened in dance area, illuminated with fairy lights and paper lanterns.
“We must be early, there is no one here,” said Violet.
“Well, actually, no one will be here tonight except for us. Look sweetheart,” he extended his hand and there was a small table. On the table was a bouquet of tea roses. “Now I know the scent you were wearing the first time you came to see me. I was in a flower shop and I smelled these little roses. Now, whenever I smell them, I will think of you.”
The small Arcadian band began playing. There was one man with a small hand accordion. Another played a fiddle and third played a guitar. As they began to play, Bill pulled Violet against him, pressing her firmly against him. As they danced, the guitarist began to sing a love song in French that spoke of an endless passion and a night of passionate love and how she must forgive him when he must disappear with the first light of dawn but there would always be another night. Bill carefully breathed the lyrics of the song to her in her ear so she would understand the words. Vampire love songs.
“What is going to happen tonight, Bill?” she finally asked the Vampire holding her in his arms. He smiled that sweet shy smile, which still managed to be sweet despite the fact his fangs had run out some.
“Everything,” he said, lowering his head.
Happy Valentine’s Day Violet….Hope you enjoyed…Everything.
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