Louise and Lestate had their systems altered on the same day. Afterwards they went to a club to try their new smiles on strangers.
Louise chose a man who kept looking at her from across the room. She let him come to her, let him buy a drink, let him believe his luck had changed. Lestate watched from the bar. He knew the moment the man noticed Louise’s metal fangs: the drink stopped halfway to his mouth.
That moment was what they came for.
They liked the expensive clothes and the admiring looks. They liked the taste of blood. But most of all they liked seeing desire turn to fear while someone was still trying to smile. Louise could make the change happen with a tilt of her head. Lestate preferred to lean close and smile.
Later they took the man into a private room, he perhaps still believed this was just about sex.
Louise told him what they wanted. He said no, and got up to leave. Lestate stood between him and the door until the man understood that his answer had changed nothing.
When they returned to the club, Louise was just about finished wiping her lips. The man came out after them, he was clearly shaken, adjusting his blood stained collar with unsteady hands. But he was alive and able to walk. Louise had been careful; she disliked her life being interrupted by investigations and tiresome Hammer Heads, who took their beauty for weakness. Those of the Hunger knew that, along with the expense of a body adjusted to to feed on blood, there must also be the willingness to get the most powerful limbs available. Beacuase there was always some fool seeking revenge.
They moved on to the dance floor of the club and began a slow sensual dance. Lestate kissed her beneath the club’s violet lighting. “Were you frightened he’d scream?” he asked “I hoped he would,” she replied with a smile.
By morning, the hunger began again. Their modified organs required blood sooner than they had expected, and keeping them serviced cost more each month. Lestate checked his credits. Louise checked the street below their window.
A woman was walking alone towards the early train. They knew well the route she would take and where they would strike.