Confidence of a Dragon

With her hair tied in a natural bun, combined with her cold and attractive appearance, all eyes followed Alice to the table.

As she sat down, the hunter could feel each of them, hear their breathing and know the position of each neck.

Every now and then, to sharpen her senses, she imagined herself cutting them.

How long would it take for those looks to become empty before their heads rolled to the floor?

Blinking a few times and taking a deep breath, the soft music in the headphones calmed her. Lo-fi, with sounds of a river in a forest in the background.

Alice couldn't imagine herself without the headphones. Without them, she would go crazy listening to the 'human' thoughts of everyone there and, perhaps, she really wanted to silence them.

'What thoughts do you have there. For someone who needs to protect them...'

Her thoughts spoke to her as if demanding attention.

'Oh, they've arrived.'

If Alice attracted glances, sideways and hidden, no one bothered to openly look at the group that was arriving.

Especially after they sat at the same table.

"Good morning!", like a flower, Sofia greeted smiling. "Have you ordered yet?"

"Why did you call me?"

Her smile didn't waver as she met the waiter's gaze. She was beginning to understand and get used to the young woman's 'shy' personality.

'She thinks you're shy... Hahahha!'

'Quiet. I can hear.'

"Getting straight to the point... How about we investigate the accident and the kidnapping?"

Alice didn't look away.

"The association is already doing that. Another team took the case..."

"Well, and I imagine it will continue that way", her eyebrows said a lot about the faith she had in the association. But what bothered Alice was something else.

And she knew what.

Her eyes blinked uselessly, narrowed, and finally she dropped the façade.

"Oh!... How do you do that?"

"She's sharp."

"Do what?"

"I've heard the rumors. But now it really pisses me off. Your ability to read others. She'd be more useful in the nobility. How about it? I can cover everything the association is giving you."

The waiter, another shy one, arrived bringing the first order.

As he placed everything in the center of the table, and Alice pulled the snacks and drinks closer, Sofia and her colleagues watched with curiosity.

"So you ordered," she said, with a lopsided smile.

There were her and three others on one side, against only Alice on the other, but ironically, the half of the table that was full wasn't hers.

"They have an app for ordering," Alice answered before her mouth was full of too much to do.

The sound of packaging began to bother Sofia a little.

'I wonder what her blood would taste like?... That's what she thought. And I didn't even need to read minds to know that. Get ready. You're going to be today's snack!'

A vein appeared on Alice's forehead as she closed her eyes and focused on the burger in front of her.

"What are you guys looking at?! Order yours."

The girls looked away.

"Nothing much. It's just..."

"What?", she wiped her lips with the napkin.

She froze and took the opportunity to stare at a stupid bastard who was looking at her with a dangerous thought. Too dangerous for her safety.

The group followed her gaze. The man, alone at the table, felt hell itself upon him.

A predator would always have presence of mind, no matter how much he hid his fangs. Under the disgusted gaze of five of them, the cold sweat on his back was the least he could do.

'Why are you so angry? You've seen worse fetishes. Remember that guy fifteen years ago...'

'Not even a crazy person bothers a dog eating.'

'Then put on the headphones. Or put a curse on him. I'll help you, we'll make his dick never get up again. Yay!'

Alice rolled her eyes.

'I can't.' Ending the conversation, she went back to eating.

The packages slowly increased on the table, when the waiter finally came back bringing twice as many as the last time.

The girls smiled when he looked to the side, expecting a slender hand to pull those trays too.

"You only ordered a coffee last time, didn't you?" Sofia couldn't help herself, and asked as soon as he left.

Alice focused on the fries.

"I wasn't hungry."

"Um, I see."

'I really don't like vampires.'

'But she seems to like you a lot. And you really like the handsome vampire, don't you? The sexiest threesome in town.'

'He didn't want to be one.'

'I can't blame anyone. I'd love to bite or be sucked by him too.'

Alice's face turned red as she nearly choked on her soda.

'I already told you to stop. Do you want me to bring the necklace?'

'Oops!'

Sofia confused the changes in her expression.

'No need to be embarrassed. Eating is good for the blood. It tastes better...'

In her wide, flowery smile, for a few seconds Alice saw only the sharp, ivory-white canines.

'I like her. She wants you and our man. Ah!... Young people these days.'

'Shut up.'

'What's wrong?... I admire greedy women.'

'What do you want to talk about?' Alice asked.

Her heavy gaze, as the vampire princess and her servants, unwrapped a snack like any human girl would.

Alice found it almost absurd.

People were so foolish.

When they imagined monsters, it was in horror scenes, hidden in the darkness, hidden, with the only desire being to devour or intimidate humans.

They never thought of monsters as protagonists of their own stories.

Eating ice cream instead of blood.

Or as powerful beings.

Hardly oppressed, who treated people like objects and planets like toys.

Ruling in broad daylight and still taking advantage of the world that the cunning 'protagonists' created.

"I'll say it again. Shall we hold hands this time?"