The Silver Platter

From the perspective of Austin Clark.

I never considered dining with one of my most hated enemies and his privileged family, but experiencing The Silver Platter made me question myself.

I wore my best dress clothes: a black suit, a silver-gray tie, black dress pants and black leather dress shoes. I also had my shiny curly brown hair combed back. I thought I looked rather dashing, for a vampire.

The restaurant sat on one of the busiest street corners in Manhattan. Inside, the restaurant was opulent, airy, invigorating, and inviting. The dining area was one big room, about 200 feet wide and 40 feet tall, incorporating yucca cane trees in the corners of the room and crystal clear glass window panes reaching from the floor to the ceiling on two sides of the room, as well as mounted modern art on the two walls free from window panes. At the center of every round white marble dining table there sat a clean, natural, genuine clear crystal cluster. From the ceiling hung several elegant crystal chandeliers, and the floor itself was polished white marble. The waiters and waitresses were all dressed in white and addressed each and every diner as if they were royalty. The music was light, pleasant and calming. I thought to myself, do I really belong in a place such as this? I felt right at home, even though I hung around less fancy establishments.

There I sat at a table with Boris and his family. Boris introduced me to his family. I greeted everyone with a wave, and then he introduced his family to me. "The oldest is Damion, the second oldest is Jordan. The second youngest is Sofia, and the youngest is Henry." Then Boris and his family all began to converse with themselves until dinner was served.

I had no idea why Boris invited me to join him and his family for dinner that night, but I didn't let my guard down, not one bit, even though I indulged myself. I presented myself as Boris' quiet, carefree coworker. I happily sipped the tall crystal glasses of cold blood that were carefully placed on the table in front of me, one by one, as Boris and his family members each conversed about their day. I remained mostly silent, exchanging pleasant glances with Boris and his family members. Then it was my turn to talk about my day.

Boris asked, "Mr. Clark, how about you? How was your day?"

You damn well know how well my day went, Boris. We sat together for an hour discussing politics. "Well, I woke up today in my home in Englewood, I got dressed, I ate breakfast, and I commuted over to Manhattan. I walked inside the F.E.F. East Command Center, I showed my ID to security, and I hitched an elevator up to the top floor where I then made my way to the High Committee Meeting Room. I sat down in my chair, and I waited for 12 P.M. to roll around. At that time, the Bi-Yearly High Committee Meeting began which lasted for an hour. After the meeting, Boris invited me to dinner with you all, and I left to go back home to relax for a bit, and to prepare for tonight. Now I'm here."

Boris' family stared at me as if I was a psycho. Was it because I was a vampire, or was it because I was too literal? I just continued to smile and sip on my cold glass of blood.

"Are you really a vampire?" Henry asked.

I nodded. "Oh yeah. I'm one-hundred percent vampire. And this is real blood. Don't worry about me sucking your blood, though. I only drink donor blood."

Everyone at the table laughed in response, and I chuckled as well.

"What's it like being a vampire?" Damion asked.

"Uh, well. It's weird. My senses are usually hyper-aware, except for when I'm waking up, or when I'm tired. When I was human, I couldn't hear a casual indoor conversation from 200 feet away. Now I can. When I was a human, I couldn't run for miles and miles and not get tired. Now I can. When I was a human, I could eat whatever I wanted to eat. Now I can only drink blood. But there was a few months when I first became a vampire that I could do both. Did that answer your question?"

Damion nodded carefully.

"Mr. Clark, sir, how did you become a vampire?" Sofia asked softly.

I didn't want to tell the full story with children sitting at the table, so I attempted a simplified version. "I was a scientist working at the F.E.F. Allegheny Regional Laboratory. I still am, part time. I was friends with a lot of high class vampires in New York City. I grew too close to one vampire in particular. He was suspicious of me. He was wanted by F.E.F. United, and he was wanted by Vampyr Society. I guess this vampire didn't want me divulging his whereabouts, so he attempted to murder me himself. Before the light left my eyes, I was found by another vampire, and his name is Gene Hart. He's the leader of the Hart Clan. I was lucky. Gene Hart wasn't supposed to be there that day, but he was, and he saved me. When I came back to life as a vampire, Gene told me I could repay him by being a spy for the Hart Clan. I still am. But the guy that tried to murder me is still on the loose. I haven't seen him since."

Sofia's eyes grew big as she zipped her lips. Jordan, the quiet one, stayed silent and watched me like a hawk.

"You seem like a very interesting individual, Mr. Clark," Boris' wife, Yvette, mentioned. She smiled warmly, and I returned the favor.

"Yeah, well. If there's anymore you want to know, just ask. Same goes for the kids. I'm an open book. Well, I try to be."

Boris and his family went back to eating, and I went back to sipping.

Before dinner was through and I had my fill, Boris turned to me and spoke. "Have you heard about the Sevaldi Clan? They've taken over Chicago. And Chicagoans love them! Heh. It's ridiculous, if you ask me."

I acted as if I knew nothing of the matter. "So, what is F.E.F. North going to do about it?"

Boris shrugged and smirked modestly. "I heard a deal was made between F.E.F. North and the Sevaldi Clan that grants the Sevaldi Clan ownership of all property within the city limits of Chicago. Apparently, F.E.F. North gave up the city of Chicago. They got tired of fighting for it. The Sevaldi Clan can keep Chicago. But, I imagine, if the Sevaldi Clan ever expands outside the city limits of Chicago, there will be a great battle indeed."

"That's crazy," I said, not knowing exactly what to say.

Boris responded, "Anyway, how was dinner, everyone?"

"It was great, honey. Thank you so much," Yvette replied.

The kids all got up to hug their father and tell him how great dinner was. They seemed to be most excited about the fact they basically got to interview a real life vampire, one that wasn't interested in sucking their blood. "Thanks, dad," said all the kids one after another.

Boris laughed and grinned, then he replied, "You're welcome, kids. I'll have one of my bodyguards drive you kids and your mother home. I'm sorry, but daddy will be home later tonight."

Boris called one of his bodyguards over to the table and asked him if he could drive his wife and kids home. The bodyguard nodded with a smile. Yvette stood, then she stepped over to Boris and gave him a hug and a kiss. The bodyguard then walked away with Yvette and the four kids trailing behind.

Boris and I were left at the table together, just the two of us. Boris sat back in his chair and stared at me with a slight smirk. I felt a bit uneasy, as if I did something wrong.

"So, Mr. Clark, did you enjoy yourself?"

I nodded. "Yes I did. Thank you very much for allowing me to join you and your family here today."

"That's great to hear. Would you care to join me outside?"

"Um. Sure?"

We both got up from our chairs and I followed him outside. Boris strolled over to one of the pillars outside The Silver Platter and he leaned against it. From inside his coat pocket he produced a cigar and a gold-plated Zippo lighter emblazoned with the name Callahan in capital letters. He lit the cigar, then he took a puff as he put his lighter back into his coat pocket. The night air wasn't cold, but it was nippy. The streets were vibrant and overflowed with a neon glow.

"Do you smoke?" Boris asked.

"When I feel like it."

"Wanna give it a taste?"

"Sure."

I took the cigar and I inhaled the flavorful smoke, then I released it. "Mmm. Do I detect vanilla and cherry?" I handed the cigar back to Boris.

Boris nodded with a grin. "Mhmm. Good observation." Boris inhaled another puff of smoke. We took turns puffing on the cigar. When we were done, we were both pleasantly mellow. Then Boris dropped the cigar and stomped out the ember.

"Do you know why I brought you out here, Mr. Clark?"

I shook my head. "Nope. No idea."

"I brought you out here to tell you I know what you're up to. Did you not stop to think I have spies working for me in every major city across F.E.F. United?"

I bit my tongue, literally.

"Before I have you disappear, forever, I want to know what you would prefer. Do you want to be a close friend and ally? Or do you want to be dead?"

I considered using the Blood Orb in my right pocket and cause Boris to have a major heart attack right outside his restaurant, but I stopped myself. "Well, I sure as hell don't want to be dead. So. I guess I'd rather be a close friend and ally."

Boris smiled with wicked intent. "Great. I'm glad. That's definitely the better choice, isn't it?"

I nodded slowly. "For sure."

"One thing you need to know: If you ever turn on me, I'll make sure that everyone I know will know your face, your name, where you live, and where you like to hang out. Don't ever let it come to that. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Great. Now, I'm sure you have a long night ahead of you. I have to go. People to meet, places to be. You can relate, can't you? Good night, Mr. Clark. I'll call you if I need your services."

Boris was suddenly joined by four bodyguards as he walked away without so much as a wave, then he and his bodyguards disappeared around a corner.

I stood there for a moment, processing everything that just happened. "Fuck," I whispered to myself.