Grateful Undead

By J. M. Allison

I made a last perusal of the place settings and brushed a hand down my cocktail dress. Perfect. The smell of turkey and buttered rolls filled our apartment.

Our friends would arrive any moment.

Gloria stomped into the room, still dressed in sweats and a stained t-shirt.

“What’s your problem?” I propped my hands on my hips and pursed my lips. “You’re the one who wanted us to host a fancy Thanksgiving dinner. This better not be because you don’t want us to be friends with Victor… and whoever his roommate is.”

She gave a partial snarl and a hint of the wolf within glinted yellow in her eyes. “We don’t need friends like him.”

We’d met Victor at a Valentine’s singles’ mingle. Despite his good looks and charm, Gloria instantly disliked him. She usually liked everyone. Even the demons we hunted. She was always wanting to save what she called “misunderstood creatures.”

“You’re always saying not everyone is a dangerous monster we need to kill.” I held up a hand to forestall her protests. “I promised to be open-minded this week. You’re not bailing on your own idea.”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I knew who you planned to invite,” she muttered.

“Is there something you want to share?”

She clasped her hands together and turned big eyes in my direction. “Cancel and you can choose how we spend Christmas.”

I squeezed my eyes closed before her irresistible puppy-dog look could influence me. I’d fallen for that trick before.

“Not gonna happen.”

I kept my eyes closed until I heard her huff away, just as the doorbell chimed.

I opened the door to usher in Victor, the perfect picture of British sophistication. He swept into a bow. “Thank you for the invite.” He stepped to the side revealing his friend.

My welcoming smile disappeared.

“May I present my friend, Jean-Luc—”

“Beaufoy!” I spat the name.

The man’s left eyebrow quirked, and he gave a slow smile revealing vampiric fangs. “Marguerite Ambroise. So glad you’re alive.”

I snatched a vase from the entryway table and lobbed it at the vampire’s head. He sidestepped and the vase smashed against the wall. I sprang forward. Last time we’d met I’d died in an alley, my throat sliced open. This time, he’d receive the severed neck.

I shoved Victor behind me. “Your roommate’s a vampire.”

He backed away from me as Beaufoy sped to the far end of the apartment.

I stalked through the kitchenette after him, snatching up a wooden spoon and breaking it in half. Not my usual weapon, but it’d do.

“Forgive the impolite question, but you appear the picture of health. Immortal by birth or curse?” Beaufoy held up his hands as if to placate me.

“Maybe I’m just gifted.” I lunged across the table, knocking dishes out of place.

Gloria appeared, her fangs exposed and eyes glowing yellow.

Victor gave her a polite smile, exposing his own fangs. “It appears they’ve met before.”

Gloria gave a bark of laughter. “That explains it.”

I scowled in their direction, this time registering Victor’s red eyes. Suddenly, Gloria’s apprehensions made sense. She’d known Victor was a vampire.

I threw my makeshift stake at Beaufoy’s dead heart. He caught the weapon just in time, and Gloria’s strong hands clamped around me, halting my next attack.

She spun me away and pushed me against the wall. “If I can have a civilized dinner with two vampires, so can you. You said we should all be friends.”

Ugh. She would turn my words against me. “Fine.”

She gave me a hard look then released me and, turning back to our guests, gave a strained smile. “Apologies for the… enthusiastic welcome.”

“No apology necessary.” Victor swept into another bow, an easygoing smile on his face. Beaufoy gave a stiff nod.

“This looks delightful.” Victor’s lighthearted comment cut the awkward silence but didn’t ease the tension as we settled ourselves at the table.

I stabbed a large slice of turkey breast with excess force and held it up. “Turkey, gentlemen?”

Beaufoy gave a polite smile. “We ate before we came.”

My fist tightened around the serving fork, the tender meat trembling on its skewer. “So why come?”

Beaufoy stared at me. “Curiosity. I’ve never met an immortal.”

“And,” Victor piped up, “we’ve never received a Friendsgiving invitation before. We were so intrigued, we had to accept.”

I slapped the battered meat down on Jean-Luc’s plate. “Well, don’t want you to miss out. The turkey’s to die for.”

“Human food doesn’t agree with us.” Beaufoy folded his hands in his lap.

“You want the full experience, right? Discomfort is sometimes part of it.” I forced a smile and flopped a spoonful of stuffing onto his plate.

He gave a stiff nod, scooping up the tiniest of bites. “Honor dictates we acquiesce to our host’s request.” He popped the morsel into his mouth.

His face puckered and twisted, a valiant effort to remain impassive. “Yes, it’s quite as you describe.”

Victor and Gloria burst out laughing, and my shoulders slumped.

“I’ll get you some drinks.” I pushed away from the table. “I’ve some blood in my equipment locker. I was saving it to bait my traps, but…” I let the sentence hang.

“I shall assist you,” Jean-Luc rose and gestured for me to lead the way.

We walked down the hall, sounds of pleasant banter drifting after us.

“We never receive invites to anything anymore,” Jean-Luc’s voice was soft, and his eyes held genuine gratitude.

“Three guesses why.” I couldn’t keep the words in.

“You typically win, don’t you?” His voice held a hint of amusement.

I grabbed the bags of blood and thrust them toward him, “You caught me on an off night. Don’t expect a repeat performance.”

He glanced over his shoulder then leaned close, a sly smile curving around his fangs. “It’s no fun knowing the outcome beforehand. Truce?”

“Truce.” I agreed, my own lips curving upward, “At least until after dessert.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. M. Allison, more commonly addressed as Lisa, or Mommommommom, grew up captivated by the magic and wonder of fairy tales. She finds daily adventure in raising four rambunctious younglings, teaching musical theatre and dance, sewing, drawing, cosplaying, writing, and reading. Stories can communicate so many things, and she hopes her stories will bring a smile and inspire others to courageously live their own adventures.

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