Night Feast by Yvonne Bruton Page A

image that stood before her was breathtakingly beautiful.  The shop assistant called out to her, asking if everything was okay, and if she could see her wearing the dress.  Lia obliged and came from behind the curtain.  The woman was speechless, and found it difficult to take her eyes off the vision that was standing before her.  She asked if the dress was for a special occasion.  Lia said that she was going to the dance at Claremont college.  The woman told her that she had a son, who graduated from the college about eighteen months ago.  Lia changed out of the dress and handed it to the shop assistant, who then wrapped it up beautifully for her customer.
    “You should get yourself some new make-up and perfume to wear with your new dress.” The woman suggested as she handed over the dress.
    “Make-up?” inquired Lia, momentarily forgetting that she ought to know about such things.  Luckily the woman had misunderstood her confusion.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to imply that you need make-up” she said smiling apologetically.  “You certainly do not, you are naturally a very beautiful girl but I think a little bit of eyeshadow and lipstick will add the finishing touch.
    ‘Eyeshadow’ thought Lia, and then suddenly remembered the blue coloured substance that Elena had been wearing around her eyes, when she had killed her.
    “There’s no need to apologise, I think that’s a wonderful idea” she responded appreciatively.  “Where’s the best place to go to buy it?”
    The shop assistant told her that there was a store at the top of the escalators, that had a variety make-up counters for her to choose from.  Lia thanked her and walked towards the strange, upward moving, iron looking steps situated in the far right corner of the shop.
    She stood for a while, not afraid but wondering how she should mount the moving steps.  She was very tempted to fly onto them, but she knew that she may be seen.  If she attracted any attention in that way,  her plan to live in this century would be ruined.  The sound of a man’s voice broke into her thoughts
    “It’s okay honey, my wife didn’t like these things either, c’mon I’ll help you get on.”
    The voice belonged to a kindly, elderly gentleman, who put his hand under the vampire’s elbow and guided her onto the escalators.  He removed his hand from her arm during the ride upwards, because the coldness of her skin had been seeping through her coat onto his palm.
    “You sure are cold honey, I’d go and get myself a nice cup of hot chocolate if I were you”  he said good naturedly.  Lia smiled at him sweetly and nodded  at his suggestion.  When they reached the top he took her arm again, and guided her onto the landing area.  Then he winked at her and said goodbye, and she made her way to the store opposite.
    Lia approached a concession that is heavily stocked with bottles of nail polish, palettes of eyeshadow, tubes of lipstick and perfumes.  She does not know what to look for, or what any of these things are for,  so she asked the two girls behind the counter if they could help her.
    “What sort of thing are you looking for” said the taller of the two haughtily.  Lia could not help but notice the unhelpful expression on her face.   This girl was not going to be like Jody, or the other shop assistant, she had to think fast.
    “I would like some make-up to wear with this dress please.”
    Lia produced her beautiful, dark green dress from its wrapping.
    “Oh that’s lovely” the second girl spoke, and her eyes were shining with admiration as she stepped forward to take a closer look.
    “I got this Kimberly” snapped her colleague quickly, she could see by the dress that a large commission was in the offing.  Kimberly retreated sulkily and went to serve another customer.
    “I’m Melissa, you say you want to buy some make-up?  Okay your skin is quite pale and your hair is dark, how about this?”
    She grabs a small, dark grey