Romeo & Juliet & Vampires by William Shakespeare Page A

said, his eyes gleaming a little.
    They took a sizable gulp of their drinks. Instantly, they dropped their cups to the floor in horror, spitting the vile substance out of their mouths and onto Mercutio and his fine silken smock.
    â€œMy God, Mercutio! Where did you get this?” Benvolio said through a series of coughs.
    Mercutio wiped some spit off his cheek with the back of his hand. “I took it from one of the servants’ trays! Did the wine taste that bad?”
    Romeo was coughing so much his eyes were watering. “Mercutio, this is not wine. This is… blood .”
    Mercutio’s skin went as pale as the nearest vampire. “I suppose I should have taken a whiff of it first.”
    â€œI suppose I should wring your neck,” Benvolio said, shaking Mercutio by his shirt collar.
    Romeo was about to intervene when a tall and menacing figure glided toward them. Romeo had seen this vampire before, wenching and wreaking havoc at the pubs in town. His name was Tybalt, and as Romeo stared into his hellish red eyes, it seemed as though a moment of reckoning was upon them.
    â€œGood evening, sirs. Is there something wrong with your beverages?” Tybalt asked in a simpering voice.
    Romeo glanced at Benvolio, whose hand was dangling near his pocket, where he knew a small, blunt wooden stake was hidden from view. Romeo tried to remain calm and act in a jovial manner, but given how intimidating Tybalt was, it was difficult.
    â€œNo, not at all,” Romeo replied in a cavalier tone. “They were just a little weak in taste.”
    Tybalt peered down at Romeo’s goblet, his eyebrows rising with suspicion. “You certainly are adventurous. Most of our human guests prefer wine over pig’s blood.”
    â€œJust like you, we are different from most humans,” Mercutio quipped.
    Tybalt gestured toward a servant, who came by with another tray of goblets and extended it toward Romeo. “Please try another. Perhaps yours was just tainted with parasites.”
    Reluctantly, Romeo reached for another goblet, his stomach rumbling at the thought of the foul taste the first sip had left on his tongue. Then out of the corner of his eye, Romeo saw a flash of chocolate brown. A young maiden with hair similar to Rosaline’s had just melted into the throng of people standing around. Romeo’s heart leaped into his throat, his passion winning out over sanity.
    â€œUnfortunately, I must decline your offer,” he said while trying to keep his eye on where the maiden wandered off to.
    â€œAnd why would you do that?” Tybalt cracked his knuckles and smirked.
    Romeo could see that Tybalt was looking for a reason to become aggressive, so he tried to placate him. He didn’t have a moment to lose. Rosaline was most likely on the other side of the room—a new suitor wasbound to approach her. “I beg your pardon, sir. I meant no offense.”
    â€œDo not beg for anything from him, Cousin,” Benvolio said through gritted teeth. “This villain deserves nothing but a nice old-fashioned beheading.”
    Tybalt’s smirk turned into a wide, sinister smile, his sharp teeth clearly visible as he growled like a wolf. He grabbed Romeo by the neck and brought him close so that Romeo’s face was within devouring range. “You were crazy to think you could hide your Montague stench from me.”
    Mercutio sidled up to Tybalt, subtly pulling a dagger out of his jacket and pressing it against Tybalt’s ribs. “Sorry to show up unannounced, but we were so distraught that we did not receive an invitation,” he said.
    Benvolio reached around to the back of his trousers and pulled out a sharp wooden stake, pointing it straight at Tybalt’s chest. “Could you blame us? Our families have been so close over the years.”
    Tybalt’s grip around Romeo’s throat only got tighter. “Can any of you idiots count? There are three of you and three