It's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

A vampire, a vampire, a vampire…she said she was a vampire. Khalid had thought she was perfect, wondered how a woman like her could be single…well, it was because she thought she was a vampire, that’s why! Or she was a vampire…she had proven she was, but the psychiatrist in him kept thinking she had lured him into her delusion or drugged him or…something. Vampires didn’t exist! And if they did all he knew of them was from black and white movies, were disgusting, pale men feasted on poor young women and made them damned. Vampires were evil, but France did not appear evil…oh, this had been quite a revelation that he still wasn’t sure what to do with.

This party she invited him too had him nervous. Why if they were all Vampires? What if he was some sacrificial lamb for them to feast upon? What if she was some female Dracula who wanted a bunch of vampire husbands? What if she wanted to make him a vampire? He didn’t want to be a vampire, but didn’t vampires live forever? He did not (that he knew of) so how…how was this…going to work? These questions fueled his nerves and anxiety as he went to her apartment, shaking his head at himself. What was he doing? Subconsciously the Fae in him was displeased as well. The human side becoming obsessive thinking about supernatural creatures was NOT was he needed. Khalid went to her door and knocked, wearing the only nice suit he had and took in a deep breath to try and calm himself down.

Khalid would have preferred to know she was an assassin than a vampire. At least assassins were human, he could still see an assassin as normal. He’d be shocked sure, but a vampire? Vampires weren’t human. Vampires were meant to be monsters. It was a far bigger pill to swallow. So even though he tried so hard to smile at her when she opened the door and be relaxed, he just couldn’t. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he simply just couldn’t suppress all the fear and uncertainty he felt at the moment. And also he didn’t know if he should…he didn’t want to lie to her, maybe it was good she knew he was nervous. He wanted her to know he was accepting this, but he still needed some time. He didn’t want her to think he was perfectly alright with this because he wasn’t, but he still loved her.

He nodded and stepped inside, looking her over “You look very lovely as well” And he hadn’t even seen the back of her dress yet. When she stepped close he didn’t flinch or freak out, but he wasn’t instantly soothed by any means. He returned the kiss and then sighed “Yes, I am” He told her honestly, nodding his head before then shaking it “No, no wine. I’m alright.” He wanted to keep a clear head if he was going to this party…or should he be relaxed? He just didn’t know. He just kept imagining all these pale people hanging upside down in a ball room. He had read too many fiction books.

He could see the humanity in her, he could. She seemed sincere in her feelings, in her sympathy and affections with him, but he just felt conflicted for he had an image of who she was and an image of how Vampires were supposed to be and…it just left him confused. He usually could work through any situation; it was his job, but not this. This time he had nothing to go by and he was on his own in dealing with this, there was no textbook or guides to assist him in dealing with her revelation. He chuckled and didn’t look convinced “I don’t feel brave…” He felt like a child who had woken up from a bad nightmare and was trying to decipher what was real and what wasn’t.

He supposed now that he knew the truth, he kept expecting her to be…different. To realize things about her he hadn’t before, things that were dark or frightening or crazy, but she was exactly the same. His mind was having trouble, but his body wasn’t, for his heart jumped when she played with his tie and teased him. When she said she cared about him he smiled more and touched her hair gently “I do trust you, I do” He did, just…he didn’t know. It wasn’t trusting her that was the issue, it was just…he didn’t know. Great, this was going to go well, wasn’t it? He really didn’t want to drink, but when she offered he decided not to refuse and took it graciously “Yes, yes…to a fun night. Cheers” He then took a sip…then another, then another slightly larger sip, which was more of a gulp. Ok…ok maybe liquor was good. It would calm him. It was a good idea.

That kiss and the glass of liquor was doing the trick. He was feeling pretty ok now, so much so that when she went to go get her purse he helped himself to another glass. Yeah…yeah everything was going to be alright. It was, he could tell. Her affections only helped soothe him further as they left and got into the car and as they began to drive he was convinced that nothing was different and everything would be fine. This mentality stayed intact…until they arrived to their destination and he remembered once more why he had been nervous in the first place. Vampires…all these people had to be Vampires, didn’t they? He wanted to ask, but didn’t know if it would offend her that he was worried about such a thing, so he kept his mouth shut.

It was…it was a mansion. Well, at least that cliché seemed to stand, now would there be a cemetery in the back and a scary butler answering the door and cobwebs in the corners? Well, he soon was going to find out. He stared at the building then took in a breath and looked at her with a forced smile “I’m sure I’ll love them” And he hoped they liked him too...just not for dinner.

He got out of the car and stared up at the mansion, before taking her hand and walking with her to the door. It was even crazier close up, he was absolutely dumbstruck by the beauty and…power the building exuded. He had never been to such a fancy place before, he knew he was going to stick out…the people in there probably had suits made out of pure silk and gold watches, and he had this suit for the past couple of years and had only ever worn it to a funeral. He was screwed. When she so happily greeted the butler he stood quietly and watched, surprised she was so chummy with the help, didn’t rich people usually ignore them? He extended his hand and shook Niles hand, giving him a proper greeting before they stepped inside and he was even more blown away.

He graciously took the wine and took a (big) sip. So much for not drinking tonight and keeping a clear head, but seeing all this…he needed to drink. He paused and looked at the man who swept France up…and downed the rest of the wine in one gulp. Khalid was never one to compare himself to other men, but he did feel his looks didn’t match France’s…but this man’s looks did. He smiled at Dante and offered a hand to shake, telling him it was a pleasure to meet him, just like Niles. But then just like that he was taken away to meet others, and did his best to keep on a warm smile and greet everyone properly and with as many manners as he could sum up….while drinking down everything France gave him.

He was surprised to see everyone seemed so…normal. Not scary or odd or anything like that at all, they were just like France, normal. He didn’t see anyone stick their noses up at him or put him down or give him looks, and that helped relax him significantly. He’d chuckle when she’d whisper in his ear and smile at her and with the help of the people around him and much, much wine, he quickly became as easy and relaxed as a lazy river. Suddenly things weren’t so scary. So what he was in a house full of Vampires and God knew what? Everything was good! Food was good, and the people were good, and the wine was good…everything was good. No worries. Nope, not a single worry or care like he had before, everything was good. Good, good, good…

Ok. He had too much wine.

He nodded and laughed “Me? I’m great!” He exclaimed with utter enthusiasm before downing another glass of wine and waiting for a waiter to come along before swapping out his empty glass with a new one. He motioned around the room “Everyone is so nice here! They don’t seem like blood sucking vampire bats at all!” He was talking a little loud, but he wouldn’t help it, for all he knew he was whispering. He then frowned “What? I’m not drunk” He shook his head and drank some more of his wine “But I’m glad I came. I am. It’s not so bad here. No cobwebs…or Frankenstein or…I don’t know…what else is associated with Vampires?” Oh yeah. He was so toasted drunk.

And oh boy, whiskey…bad idea, but Khalid took it graciously and took a long drink. He cleared his throat and tried to stand a bit straighter around this Dante character “I am a psychiatrist.” He then smiled warmly at France “I met her at the diner she works at. I saw her and well, I kept going back every night until I finally got a chance”

Her thoughts were correct; he wasn’t the man to ever be drunk. As far as he remembered he had never been drunk, but he had just not been careful this time around. Tomorrow he would be embarrassed and hate himself for behaving this way and allowing himself to drink so much, but for now? He was having a grand ole’ time. He shook his head “You? No! No, you are far, far too lovely to be Frankenstein or his bride. Maybe Dracula’s bride though…that might work” Draculas brides were supposed to be beautiful, right? That’s how they are described in books and shown in movies…though France was still prettier than them by far, but he was making a drunken comparison.

He smiled and glanced to her “I don’t know…fifteen? She was a tough one, but too beautiful to not keep going back, even if I was going to strike out over and over again” His speech was a little slurred as he spoke, but it was a miracle he could even create sentences. When she mentioned dancing he blinked, and if he was any more clear headed he would have said he needed to be drunk more before dancing, but really he shouldn’t be any more drunk then he was right now “Ah…alright” He said hesitantly, but couldn’t do anything but follow her.

He nodded as she described the kind of man she liked, totally clueless, until he finally got it “Oh! You mean me!” He exclaimed, before laughing at himself and his foolishness. After that, he drank even more because hell, he had already drank so much so far, might as well keep going right? With Dante he agreed whole heartedly “I am lucky, thank you” Of course he was lucky…look at her! Men like him who were humble psychiatrists barely getting by didn’t land women like her, but he had and he was glad for it. It was perhaps a good thing France pulled Khalid off, or he might have started talking about inappropriate things.

Khalid wasn’t a ok dancer…when he was sober. Drunk? Would be interesting. He let her lead because he couldn’t think clearly enough to do it himself, he just followed where she went, though her teasing made him chuckle and feel rather hot. He fumbled a bit but he was doing rather decent in not looking like a utter fool. He was just lucky he didn’t take his shirt off and tried to do the Macarena....yet.

To see her move the way she did…it was hypnotizing and soon he was just watching her dumbly instead of just acting dumb because of all the liquor in his system. A smile stayed on his face though and he’d chuckle when she teased him particularly well, his hands sliding over her body but his rhythm was totally off and he was rather just like a piece of wood floating aimlessly in the ocean. Oh yes...tomorrow if he remembered even a sliver of all of this, he was never, ever, ever, ever going to drink again. He was supposed to be behaving like a gentleman and playing nice with her family and friends, but instead he was acting like a teenager who had gone to his first keg party.

When the music slowed down it helped to mask his drunkenness a bit better. He had just finished sliding his arms around her when he turned and saw it was Dante, and had to focus really, really hard to get in what he was saying. After a few moments he nodded, not really knowing what else to do even though he didn’t want Dante to dance with her. Dessert? Right…ok. Maybe sit down. Maybe if he sat down he wouldn’t be so drunk…perfect drunk logic. He stepped back from France a bit begrudgingly, glancing to Dante then moved away and tried to find somewhere to sit.

He watched the two dance, highly aware even in his hazy stupor that Dante was dancing and behaving a lot better than he was at the moment but…yet even with this knowledge he either seemed to not care or unable to do anything about it, so he just kept watching them and smiling when she did. He had thought he was standing still after giving up on finding a place to sit, but apparently he had been moving the whole time without his knowledge because suddenly he collided with someone and he stood there rather stunned. How did that happen? He blinked at the waitress and it took him a few moments to realize what happened before responding with a frown “I’m sorry, I didn’t even-“ Know he was moving? Maybe that wasn’t the brightest thing to say.

He looked over to France and blinked some more than back to the waitress “I’m sorry” He repeated again but then followed France like a good little puppy because he was really starting to lose it. The more the wine and other liquor sat in his system the worse he became. He moved over to stand infront of a mirror and frowned and it shirt then his eyes went to her as she removed his jacket “I think…I’m embarrassing you” He slurred and looked almost like he was pouting. He had wanted to make a good impression and now he was doing the absolute opposite. He was surprised no one had tried to kick him out yet of the fancy party.

He began laughing when she called him a mess, and that simple laughter turned to an uncontrollable bought of giggles. At first it would seem her panic of slipping the L word was unnecessary, for it appeared he had not paid it any mind with all the laughter that had consumed him. As she stared at him to check if he noticed he just kept laughing and laughing, blissfully unaware of it all. He tried to stop his laughter but he couldn’t seem too, which only made him laugh even more. It seemed his fit of giggles would never stop, until she started touching him and that certainly got his attention.

He stopped laughing rather abruptly and seemed to remember he had a beautiful woman infront of him who was touching his bare skin right now. He grinned when she leaned up to kiss him, returning it happily and going back to his more zen-like drunk mode that he was in before. But as they kissed something finally clicked, more than likely to her dismay. He blinked and leaned book, staring at her “Did you say you love me?”

He thought maybe his brain had made it up since, well, his brain was making up a lot of crazy thoughts in his head so quick he couldn’t even keep track of any of them. But then she admitted that she did indeed say it and his eyes widened as he balked at her, his body wavering a bit back and forth as if he were standing on a shaky boat. Probably if her hands weren’t on him, he’d be falling over right about now. His concentration got hazy again when she started touching and kissing him again, but he did catch the words the second time around as well and he was just…floored.

He blinked a bit, than blinked some more, before grinning like a kid even though his body was more reacting like a man to her affections “I love you too” But she already knew that, he had already told her but last time he had gotten a thank you, maybe this time he would be a tad bit more fortunate than that.