“How about you?” asks the lady, arching an elegant eyebrow. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”
I reply that I’m a native, born and bred; this is my first time here, but I’ll definitely be back!
I drain the last of my sidecar and rise to leave. “I hope to see you guys here again soon!”
“Wait,” says Andrei, staying me with a look.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” asks the pale lady, laughter dancing in her eyes and a smile playing on her red, red lips.
The bar goes silent. I glance around and suddenly all the other patrons are looking at me.
I flush. How silly of me, I forgot to pay! I turn to Andrei. “I’m sorry,” I say, shaking my head at my faux pas. “How much is it?”
“It is as stated,” Andrei replies simply. “A drink for a drink.”
I glance at the other patrons, and a chill runs down my spine when I realize they’re all staring at me expectantly, eagerly, their eyes glowing in the dim light.
I look at the slender gentleman, who has put his glass aside, his teeth set in a razor grin, at the pale lady, whose hungry smile reveals her fangs.
And then they all come, to drink.