Droplets

"I believe what he said was that we live but to die," he said, popping open his cigarette case with a light click and removing a slender white roll of paper. He paused to tap the smoke on the back of the case before his lighter flashed it into life.

"Morbid," James replied.

"Life is morbid, mate" he replied.

A short woman carrying a tray almost as large as she was stopped at their table and waved the smoke out of her face idly with one hand.

"Gentlemen," She said.

"Madam," they said back.

"What'll it be tonight?"

She set the tray down on their table and pulled out a small pad of paper and a blue pen.

"I'll have the Romana," James said smiling.

"I'll have gin and water," said the other man.

"Nothing to eat, hun?" the waitress asked.

"Maybe you," He said smiling. She blushed and gathered the tray in her arms.

"Might be hard, sir," her cheeks grew red and warm, "I'm not on the list of specials,"

"I'll call the manager and see what can be done,"

She nodded briefly to him, trying to hide a smile that was spreading across her face, before heading back into the kitchen.

"You play a dangerous game, Niel," James whispered, "She may have taken that to heart,"

"She won't know until she is bone dry, my friend," He leaned back in his chair making it creak and groan, "If only food were this easy to catch when I was still alive,"

Niel laughed but James remained uneasy, tearing little pieces from a napkin left on the table by the waitress. It would have to be soon, James thought, or never.

James felt in his pocket for the thick piece of wood he'd spent the day filing to a point. It pricked his finger, bringing out a bright red droplet. Niel sat up a little straighter in his seat and sniffed the air, his eyes tightening into slits.

"So it comes to this then," Niel said to James.

The stake came out of his pocket, brandished point down and ready. Niel flew from his chair which slid across the floor and crashed against the wall.

"Come then, little one. To think I would have made you a brother,"

Niel's fingers curled into claws and James' teeth lengthened to sharp daggers. The crowd began to scream.