The Recruiters by Dara Nelson

but she was running out of ideas.
    We talked about Billy and Alison while walking the last two blocks to her apartment. “Boy, are they hooked,” she said. “The only two people I’ve ever seen more meant for each other were you and Matt. It’s weird. Almost like you bring that with you somehow. It kinda freaks me out to hang out with you, cause that’s sooooo not my thing.”
    “ Another reason I’m here to talk to you,” I said as we climbed the stairs and went inside.
    “ Gimme two minutes to shower,” she said as she started pulling off her clothes. I loved how comfortable she was with her sexuality and her body. It showed me that she was strong enough to handle what I was going to ask her.
    “ Sure, no problem,” I replied as I sat at the kitchen table.
    She emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later and came and sat down at the table with me, completely naked, while towel-drying her hair. “So, what’s up?” she said.
    I took a deep breath and jumped right in. “First of all. How old are you?”
    “ Twenty-three,” she replied. “Why?”
    “ How would you like to have that body and be twenty-three forever?” I said, trying not to show how nervous I was.
    “ You’re joking right?” she said. “I mean, if that were possible then, heck yeah, but it’s not.”
    “ Yes, it is,” I said and I watched as she tilted her confused face to the side. I slid my hand across the table. “Take my hand,” I said and as she did I continued, “Does it feel different from yours? Colder? Smoother?”
    “ Yes,” she replied, staring down at it, “and it’s a different color. Your skin isn’t as pink as mine. It’s porcelain but it almost seems to be the same color as my veins, like it has a bluish tinge.” She looked up at me and touched my cheek. “And your face too. You should really go tanning or something, Sarah.”
    I ignored her suggestion, smiled and continued. “It is,” I went on, “And have you ever seen me drink a coffee or eat anything at the shop, or at your club when I went to see you there?”
    “ No,” she said. “But I just thought you were as obsessed about your body as I am.”
    I smiled. “I used to be, but my body now will never change. It will stay like this forever.”
    She shifted forward in her chair. A good sign, it meant she was curious. “But…. how?”
    “ Because I’m not human anymore,” I replied.
    She laughed nervously. “Now I know you’re pulling my leg. What do you mean you’re not human?”
    “ I’m not,” I said. “I’m a vampire.”
    She dropped my hand, leaned back in her chair and stared at me. “You are not,” she whispered.
    “ Yes, I am,” I replied.
    “ Prove it,” she said. “Let me see your fangs.”
    I shook my head. “It doesn’t work that way, they only drop down if someone evil is nearby… or during sex.”
    “ You can still have sex?” she said. Now I was on a subject that really piqued her interest.
    “ Better sex than I ever had as a human,” I smiled. “And much more of it because we don’t tire as easily.”
    “ Really? That’s awesome,” she said, then she frowned. “But do you kill people?”
    I dropped my eyes to the table. “I have, once,” I said. “But only to help Matt. We don’t need to kill. There’s a huge network of prison doctors around the world that supply us with donated blood from prisoners.”
    “ Why prisoners?” she said. “Couldn’t you just go rob a blood bank or something?”
    “ No,” I replied. “Our fangs don’t respond to all blood. Only blood from evil, bad people. That’s why I can’t show them to you and why I could never bite you. You’re a good person.”
    She blew out from her lips. “Wow,” she said. “Wait… this really is some kind of joke, right? Did someone put you up to this? This isn’t for real, is it?”
    I glanced out the window, saw that it was dark outside and smiled. “You’re gonna be late for work, aren’t you?”
    “ Oh crap!” she