Charlie blinked. "You too?"
"Not anymore, but my first three months? I was a total disaster. I just kept passing out mid-feed if you can believe it!" She leaned forward conspiratorially. "There's actually a whole section in the library here about vasovagal responses in new vampires. Super common, just nobody talks about it."
"Because it's embarrassing," Connor added, still focused on his puzzle. "Growing pains. Like how I threw up the first six times I tried to drink blood."
"Or how I couldn't retract my fangs for two weeks," Thomas said. "I had to learn to talk around them. I swear I sounded like I had the world's worst lisp."
Charlie stared at them. "But... other vampires I've met made it seem like I was broken. Like I was insulting the species by existing."
Maya's expression darkened. "Yeah, there's a lot of those assholes out there. The ones who think being turned makes them superior, not just different." She shrugged. "That's why places like this exist. For those of us who didn't get the memo that vampirism was supposed to turn us into pretentious dickheads."
"Speaking of which," Thomas closed his book, "dinner should be starting soon. Fair warning, Charlie, the presentation here is intense."
"Presentation?"
Connor finally looked up from his puzzle. "They treat blood like it's wine service at a Michelin star restaurant. It's a little much if you ask me."
"But it works," Maya admitted. "Whatever they're doing, it makes it easier. Even for those of us with... complications."
A soft chime echoed through the house.
"Dinner bell." Viktor stood. "Come on, Charlie. Let's see if the east dining room is as pretentious as I remember."
It was worse.
The dining room looked like something from a period drama—candlelit despite the electric sconces, long mahogany tableset with actual china and crystal. Each place setting had three different glasses.
"Why three glasses?" Charlie whispered to Viktor.
"Different types. You'll see."
More vampires filtered in. An elderly woman who moved like a dancer, twin brothers who couldn't have been older than nineteen when turned, a middle-aged man in a cardigan who looked like he should be teaching high school English.
Nobody stared at Charlie. Nobody sneered. They just took their seats, continuing quiet conversations.
A door at the far end opened, and staff emerged carrying covered silver trays. Human staff, Charlie noted, but they didn't seem scared in the least.
"Good evening, everyone." A woman who could have been Sage's sister addressed the room. "Tonight's selection includes Type O positive from our Pacific Northwest collection, AB negative from our Midwest reserve, and a special treat: B positive from our Mediterranean series."
Charlie watched in fascination as she lifted the covers with a flourish. Crystal decanters filled with blood, each a slightly different shade of red. The smell hit immediately, rich and complex and nothing like the medical blood bags he'd expected.
He could almost fool himself into believing that it actually was wine.
In any case, his brain was sufficiently tricked for him not to faint at the sight of so much blood.
"The O positive has notes of iron and earth, excellent body, pairs well with contemplative evening activities." The woman at the front poured a small amount into the leftmost glass at each setting. "The AB negative is lighter, almost floral, perfect for those seeking clarity. And the B positive..." She smiled. "Sun-warmed stones and herbs. Our donors follow a specific diet to achieve this profile."
"Donors?" Charlie asked before he could stop himself.
The woman's smile never wavered. "Of course. All our blood comes from willing donors who are compensated generously for their contributions. We maintain the highest ethical standards."
Maya leaned over. "They have a whole program. People sign up, get health screenings, and donate on a schedule. Like a very exclusive, very expensive plasma center."
It sounded too good to be true.
Charlie watched the other vampires sampling from their glasses, making appreciative noises, discussing the blood like it was wine.
The normality of it all made his head spin.
