Chapter 4 Arc

In another room in the building Steve is staying, you could hear a chopping sound, the sound of something being fried. Yes, Steve is cooking in a kitchen, in a room just behind the counter. After all, we knew that Steve is trying to expand his business.

"Now that the meat is cooked, let's remove it from the pan," Steve said as he got a thong to remove the meat from the pan and placed it in a plate with some fried potatoes.

'With the remaining sauce in the pan, let's sauté some onion,' thought Steve while he place the finely chopped onions in the pan. With his spatula, he slowly stirred the onions until they are soaked with the sauce, then he let it sit for a while. When the onions started to release water, he stirred again then he turned off the stove.

He remove the pan and put the onions on top of the steak the he just cooked. 'With a little bit of plating.' Steve moved some of the onions on top of the steak to make circle outside the steak. "Voila. Steak and fries with sautéed onion," Steve announced the name of his food with an excited expression.

'For the revelation, let me have a taste.' Steve held a knife and a fork in each hand. With a graceful motion, he cut the steak like it was butter. Stabbed the sliced meat with his fork, and slowly did he put the meat into his mouth. He chewed slowly, really tasting the flavour coming out of the meat.

"Delicious, if I may say," exclaimed Steve with a blissful expression.

'The meat was well cooked. It was soft. The sauce is really give a nice taste and the onions sweetness blends well with the meat.'

"It looks like I am trying to be a Master Chef Judge with the way I analyzed this dish," Steve chuckled as he continued to eat the steak.

'Well, that's one dish done.' Steve finished eating and cleaned the kitchen. After cleaning, he sank down the floor and continued his daily job of checking the wines he brewed and stored underground.

"Welcome," Steve greeted when someone came in. He looked and was surprised to see Emily came in with somebody. The person is a man, a bit taller than Emily. He looks handsome with his hair the same color with Emily. That was when Steve noticed Emily not wearing her lab coat. She wore a red dress that compliments her red eyes.

"What," Emily asked with an annoyed face.

"I was just surprised to see you bring somebody here and you not wearing your lab coat," Steve smiled as he explained himself.

"Oh. So you were mesmerized by my beauty eh Steve," Emily smiled charmingly as she sat down in front of Steve with the man sitting beside her.

"So you must be Steve. I heard a lot about you from Arctos and Emily. They say that you serve good drinks here," the man spoke with a bit of an accent towards Steve.

"Ah yes. And you might be Emily's boyfriend I presume," Steve asked as he reached out his hand towards the handsome man.

The man grabbed his hand and made a handshake while saying, "Actually, I am her father," with a big smile.

Steve froze when he heard him say that. He completely forgot that he is still holding his hand. *Ehem,* that brought Steve back and he immediately released his hand.

"I am so sorry," Steve apologized. "You two look like just a couple when you came in and you look a bit young to be Emily's father."

"Haha. Apology accepted and I get that a lot that I look young to be a father. But it comes as a perk being a vampire," the man smiled.

"I am Archam de Dracule vi Luis or known as Arc Luis," the man introduced himself.

"Dracule? So you are a descendent of Dracula," Steve asked when Emily laughed out loud. Hearing that Steve made a questioning look.

"It's a yes but a no," Arc replied. "Well I could explain it but first may I ask for a drink. What do you recommend for me?"

"Ah. Right. I recommend a Bloody Mary for my customers who are a vampire and I presume you will have the same as well Emily," Steve said then asked Emily who is trying to contain her laughter while nodding indicating she will have that drink.

"Then a Bloody May, I will have," Arc smiled. Steve then turned his back and took a bottle from the shelf, two glasses and placed it on the counter. He then bend down to take some ice from a fridge installed in the counter.

He put the ice on the glass and poured some of the contents of the bottle into the glass till it was half full then turned around to grab another bottle that is labelled blood.

He pour till the glass it's a bit full, stirred it then placed the glasses in front of his two guests.

"Wonderful bartending skills Steve," Arc praised Steve as he took a sip from the glass to which he praised him again, "And delicious if I may say. Arctos was spot on with what he said."

"Thank you for the compliments Arc," Steve smiled.

"Now as I was about to explain my answer, I would like you to ask you a question of how much you know about Dracula," Arc looked at Steve as he awaits an answer.

"Everything I know is when I was still human. No offense but I really thought that Dracula is just a story," Steve said.

"No offense taken. Continue."

"He is like the king of the vampire lore wise. That is what I know," Steve continued as he shares his knowledge about the topic.

"Well you are correct that he is the king of our species. You see, Dracula was the name of the strongest vampire among us. He was able to rule us before he died. And his name became a title for the strongest vampire there is," Arc explained.