Chapter 228 - Food Break

Bob frowned. "Cornellio did his best, but you can't change a man's nature. Mine, for example, doesn't like most of the guests. Too much vampires in one place, but do you see a single shifter? He didn't even bother to invite any. Witches, yes, and humans, but they don't stand out much. My kin commands attention, that's a fact. It all looks all nice and calm now, but I swear to God this won't end without someone's blood being shed. And not one of these flowerpeople." He nodded towards one of the official donors.

"Is that so?" JJ drawled out. "I wish I had less trust in your intuition."

"I really hope it's wrong this time. Can't something go without violence, for once?" I asked, addressing no one in particular.

Bob chuckled. "Never. Violence is in human nature. And, as I will never stop repeating, vampires are just as much human as any other guy."

"Human nature… Well, cooperation is in it, too. Why can't we all fall into these instincts for once?" I shook my head. "Whatever! I came here to have fun and explore business avenues, not to think when or if the gathering will inevitable fall into chaos."

"That's the spirit!" Bob nodded with approval.

"We should talk again later, somewhere more private, while we have an opportunity, Bob," JJ said and glanced at me. "I see a few more familiar faces here, and I would like to introduce them to Diana as well."

"You are on everyone's lips these days. I'm sure they'd like to chat with you, too. You know, a couple of decades ago, when I was convinced you finally died for good, I almost commissioned a movie to be made about you and Dragon. I thought it would be a good way to commemorate you…"

"You what?" JJ recoiled with an expression of terror mixed with desperate hope. "But you didn't."

Bob laughed. "I almost wish I did now! You should've seen your face, Jean! Alright, now that I had my fun with you, you might go." He waved us off. "Get yourself a drink to wipe that sourness off your mug while you're there."

JJ sighed with the most long-suffering expression I've ever seen on him. "This is duel-worthy, Bob. If they were still permitted, I would've definitely called you to one."

"Duels. So fancy. If you don't like someone, just beat them up." Bob grinned. "I warn you, though—I will resist."

With a shake of his head, JJ walked away. I followed, and was in the exact position to see his face brightening as soon as Bob couldn't see his face.

"What an unusual guy. If all vampires were like him, Twilight would've never had been written," I said. "So, too bad that most vamps are more like you. And since you didn't watch or read Twilight after all, I will just say that it's awful."

"Does that mean that you'd wish I looked more like Bob, too, ma chèrie? Do you find his rough charm attractive?" JJ asked jokingly.

"Oh, no. You'd have to stay the same as you are! You'd be my special exception," I smiled back. "Then again, if I were to choose between your looks and your personality, I'd pick personality that instant. I had enough handsome bastards… Now, who are you leading me towards this time?"

"Just a passing acquittance, but he might be of more interest to you than to me. This man has a deep interest—obsession even, I'd say—to all things of days old. Knowing him might turn out to be useful for you."

JJ and I made a walk around the hall, exchanging greetings and words with people JJ knew to a bigger or lesser extent. All vampires, of course, though most came with a human companion on their arm. Or accessory, more like. Some were more friendly towards us, some less, but none seemed to be actually friends with him the same Bob was.

Either way, I did get a few very interesting contacts from this entire thing. My talents as a witch were of the biggest interest for everyone, but from there a lot expressed curiosity in my business, too.

Finally, we stopped at the snacks table. The canapes were delicious, and the water bubbly—because normal water probably wasn't fancy enough. I swallowed another one and glanced at JJ. "Are you not hungry yourself?" I knew he got his daily bite last night while I was asleep in the hotel, but we were approaching midnight by now.

"I can bear it. I don't want to leave you alone here," JJ leaned on the table with his elbows. Despite the relaxed pose, there was a tense wrinkle between his eyebrows. "Maybe it's just the spell here, but I have a growing sense of premonition."

I glanced at another vampire, who was led by one of the official donors towards a door outside of the gala. Biting was a private thing, after all. At least when you didn't want to provoke all the other sharks. "I can live alone for ten minutes, JJ. Really. I won't be even done with all these cupcakes by the time you return," to prove it, I took one and bit a tiniest bit off it. "And I'm sure that pestering people at the snack table is bad manners or something like that."

JJ gave me a warm smile. "You have convinced me. Food shall protect you, and if it fails, then Bob will. But that's of course, only in case of the most grim possibility, and the least probable one in these time constraints." He tsked. "The more time I spend here, the less I like the spell on this place."

I didn't like it either. When I looked at the gathered vampires through my well, I could see that it didn't negate the murderous instincts, but just suppressed them. The anger didn't go anywhere—it was still there, just boiling under wraps. The spell held it down with ease, but if, just if…

A fearsome perspective, but I didn't give in to that fear. "I will be alright, JJ.. Take your break, too."