Night Feast by Yvonne Bruton

manner had reminded the vampire of the girls of the streets, on the other side of the portal.  She had been relieved to see that Jay had not really responded to her.  The thought of him brought that same stirring within her again.  Jay.  That was the name that she had heard that awful girl and the other boy call him.  His voice had been like sweet music to her ears, it had a masculine deepness to it, a knowingness.  She had felt her whole body tremble at the sound.  Lia was quite overwhelmed by the strong feeling and emotion that he, without even knowing that she existed, had instilled in her. She decided that this must be how her Father had felt when he had first seen her Mother. This must be what the human beings call love.
    Quicker than lightening strikes, she transported herself back to Portland.  She found her way to the shopping mall for the second time, however this time she went to another shop.  She was aware that she was still on the receiving end of peoples furtive glances ,some were less subtle with outright stares.  Nevertheless this time the reason was more about her incredible beauty than her clothes.
    Lia reminded herself, as she was developing a habit of doing, not to lose control in this very human environment.  Her father had taught her some very effective techniques, to stop herself from attacking people at inappropriate times.  He had not been so concerned about her twin sister Kathrin, she was the epitome of self control.  Valentin had told Lia to vividly imagine that the people were not really flesh and blood, but mere statues.  He had told her to visualise herself touching and smelling their necks, and feeling the cold, grey rough stone rub against her lips.  Then he had instructed her to bite into the necks of the imaginary statues, and feel her teeth break on the unwelcoming, tasteless stone.  After taking seven deep breaths Lia had completed the full visualisation.  Her father’s method had quelled her appetite for hours.
    Lia walked around the shop that sold mainly dresses and shoes.  She went from rail to rail and was amazed at how short the dresses were.  Back in her century, a woman would have been heavily frowned upon, if she wore anything that revealed her ankles.  There was also much less material in these clothes.  Lia was used to much thicker fabric and fuller skirts.  Her eyes finally fell upon a pretty, dark green, silk and taffeta dress.  It was roughly the same shade as her new coat, and she remembered that the sales girl Jody had said that the colour was a match for her beautiful eyes.  She held the dress against her body for a moment, and was about to put it where she’d found it.  It was strapless and it barely covered her knees, she couldn’t possibly wear anything like this!  Then she remembered the very wise words of Dalia Jackson.
    “To fit into this world, this century, you must wear what the other teenage girls wear.  At first it will seem very strange to you, not being at all used to showing your flesh, but it is a sacrifice that you are going to have to make.”
    The shop assistant, an older woman in her late thirties this time, came towards her.
    “That dress will look lovely on you Miss, that’s a very good choice.  Would you like to try it on?”
    Her persuasive tone denoted that she could see that Lia was a girl who could easily afford to pay the five hundred dollar price tag. Lia nodded and followed the woman’s directions to the changing rooms, at the back of the shop.  Once behind the curtain she removed her coat and hat.  She took off her shirt and pulls the dress on over her head, while she was still wearing her jeans.  She then took Elena’s handkerchief from the pocket of her jeans, and removed them before observing herself in the mirror.  Dalia Jackson was right.  She did feel very strange in what she saw to be a very revealing outfit.  However, even though her long shapely legs were in full view, she had to admit that the