A warm and cloudless night with the stars dancing overhead had settled over the small Greek coastal town called Mesyrna. Free from the dry and scorching heat of the sun, the locals emerged from their air-conditioned homes and buildings to socialize and take advantage of the gentle breeze coming off the Mediterranean Sea. Stretching the length of their recently completed brick boardwalk were various vendors that peddled everything from bottled water to tailored-made suits for anyone willing to pay the price.
Nestled at the extreme east end of the walk, a little pce named ‘Moonstone Bay Winery & Café’ offered local wines and spirits along with a variety of coffees and different jasmine teas. Having arrived long enough to receive their drinks, a pair of women had settled around a four-seat table and absorbed the atmosphere the cafe offered.
Amid the hushed bustle within the winery, one of the vampire dies slowly twirled her crimson wine called Agiorgitiko in time with a pop-up artist as he pyed a deeper and mildly darker version of Für Elise on his small and ragged digital piano. Gently swaying back and forth so her curly bck hair moved with the warm and masterful keystrokes, a faint frown appeared once the music faded. "I swear that the composition should have been longer." Snapping out of her self-induced trance, Vasia opened her sand-swirled hazel eyes and found her companion watching her intently. After savoring the plum-fvored wine with her cquered bck lips, Vasia resumed her train of thought. "I’m aware that I say that every time a piano piece wraps its silky, smooth and artistic bell tones around me." Swirling her fragrant wine gss under her nose, she drank a bit more and left a perfect bck print behind. "It is just that many times I have just gotten my rhythm and then the moments are over." Gracefully gifted with a height of a few inches over five feet and sun-touched olive skin, Vasia Kddopili was not what anyone would immediately suspect as a vampire. While she did possess the same abilities as any vampire, her overall appearance fed the idea of a silent beauty with alluring eyes that hinted at a cyclonic mystery just below the surface. “Well? Don’t let me sit here and speak to myself, Olympia.”
Vasia’s companion and guardian, Olympia matched Vasia in skin tone but that was where the simirity ended. Originally trained as a foot soldier, Olympia maintained an athletic physique that became chisel-like after Vasia cimed her. She kept her chestnut-colored hair long enough for Vasia to enjoy, but otherwise in a tight bun to maintain her aura of professionalism. Not one for cosmetics, the old warrior opted most days to maintain a simple yet elegant look. “Did you ask a question, My Queen? I only heard you talking about the music ending. I apologize if there was something that I missed.” Olympia posed with questions in her bloodstone-colored eyes and a smile on her face. “Forgive me, Highness.” She bowed her head and continued, “I was only having a little fun.” Olympia picked up her gss of ouzo and water then shook the licorice-fvored alcohol until it turned a swirling milky white. “I’ve mentioned it many times before, your reverence of the piano is one of the things I love most about you. I can see the peace that inhabits you when those eighty-eight keys are struck in perfect harmony.” After taking a small sip of her drink, Olympia reached over with one of her strong hands and patted Vasia on the shoulder. “My Queen, I can see the red swirling within your eyes. Perhaps it’s time to hunt?”
While Vasia did feel the sensation of heavy burning and the want of fresh blood in her system, the elder vampiress knew that she was very far from having to hunt immediately. “We’ve been here long enough to get our drinks and listen to one song.” She straightened out her wide-strapped sage-colored camisole, and untied the small hooded sweater she’d brought for show then hung it on the back of her chair. “We have Dolmadakia on the way as well.” Vasia leaned forward and looked deeply into Olympia’s strong Athenian face and grinned. “You are hardly hungry. Those bloodstones are not even pulsing, so what is the rush? Tell me the truth, Olympia. I sense you are hiding something.”
Right when Olympia opened her mouth to respond, the musician came back from his little break and started pying once more. Centuries of experience with her queen told Olympia that she’d have to wait out the five or ten minutes for the gentleman to stop pying. With a kiss on Vasia’s dainty hand, Olympia sat back and crossed her legs then leisurely sipped her drink.
When that first bell-like key was struck, Vasia instantly turned and sat up in her seat. “I do not know this song, Olympia.” Vasia whispered excitedly. Seconds ter, Vasia’s senses were overcome with a full and haunted melody that deepened into a glorious sound of liquid night. Once more entranced with the thrilling shadowy tune, Vasia had closed her eyes and dipped her head and moved in time with the piano. Minutes passed quickly and Vasia had barely noticed the keys had stopped when Olympia’s loving fingers lifted Vasia’s curly hair away from her cheek. “Oh..” Vasia blinked her stormy eyes open and leaned into Olympia’s touch. “…thank you, Olympia. How long ago did he stop pying?”
“A few minutes ago, Your Highness.” Olympia gave Vasia an admiring and soft look, “I say it all the time, My Queen. You should learn the piano; I believe that you’d find more of your soul within.”
Still in recovery from a song she’d never heard, Vasia looked up at the night sky and quickly found Ursa Major. “Olympia, it was like the stars were pouring into my ears.” She pointed at the consteltion. “I want to meet that musician after his performance.” When the scent of spice-cooked mb and rice pierced Vasia’s senses, she turned and watched the waitress approach and set the small dish of stuffed grape leaves for the couple. “They smell delectable and while I look forward to the chef’s artwork, I am a little…peckish.” Vasia reached out and took the dy’s hand intent to follow Olympia’s suggestion moments before. Billowing a short breath into the woman’s face, Vasia soothingly asked, “What is your name dear?”
Rocking slowly back and forth, yet held firmly by Vasia, the young woman complied. “I-I’m Maia...so pretty.
“What a lovely name, Maia. I will only keep you for a few more seconds and you may attend to your other customers.” Vasia gnced over to Olympia. “So I changed my mind. Music and blood are such a fruitful combination, Olympia.”
“Blood is everything, My Queen.” Olympia affirmed.
Choosing a rather juicy vein in Maia’s hand, Vaisa brought her lips to bare and with only a little pinch from her four fangs, kissed-drank Maia’s blood. Soaked with Maia’s sudden desire for her, Vasia let the sexually charged syrup swirl on her tongue for a few seconds before easing the pain of her throat-burn.
-Best fvor there is. Whoever coined the phrase was spot on. Blood is everything.-
